The Clallam County Sheriff’s Office and safety advocates are asking boaters to help keep everyone safe by not consuming alcohol or drugs while out on the water — especially when operating a boat or paddlecraft.
As boaters prepare for the weekend preceding the Fourth of July holiday, law enforcement agencies are preparing for Operation Dry Water — a nationally coordinated effort that focuses on boating-under-the-influence (BUI) awareness and enforcement. Boaters will notice an increase in patrols across local waterways in Clallam County including the Straits of Juan De Fuca and Lake Sutherland, from July 2 through 4.
According to the U.S. Coast Guard, boating under the influence is the leading known contributing factor in fatal recreational boating accidents.
In Washington State, it is illegal to use any substance that impairs a person’s ability to operate a boat. The law applies to all boats, including kayaks, canoes, stand up paddleboards, rowboats and inflatable fishing rafts. Some key things for boaters to know:
- State law allows law enforcement officers to require boaters suspected of operating a boat while intoxicated to submit to a breath or blood test.
- Refusing to submit to a test is a civil infraction with a maximum fine of $2,050.
- The penalty for operating a boat under the influence is a gross misdemeanor punishable by a maximum fine of $5,000 and 364 days in jail.
- Additionally, a BUI is considered a prior offense if there are later convictions for driving under the influence (DUI).
In Washington it is illegal to operate a vessel with a BAC level of .08 or higher – the same as it is to operate a vehicle. “The accidents and tragedies that happen because individuals chose to drive drunk or impaired, on land or on the water, are preventable. The decision lies with the individual on whether they chose to operate a boat or vehicle while under the influence”, says Sheriff Bill Benedict. “As law enforcement, it is our job to do all we can to ensure the safety of our recreational boaters and paddlers. That is why the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office is joining other states and agencies across the country to do our part in keeping boaters safe and preventing accidents related to boating under the influence.”
Alcohol is the leading contributing factor in recreational boating deaths, and a major contributor to accidents. The Clallam County Sheriff’s Office encourages boaters to enjoy the boating season to its full extent by boating sober, wearing a life jacket, and taking a boating education course.
During Operation Dry Water in 2021, 575 local, state, and federal agencies participated in the event. Over the three-day heightened awareness and enforcement weekend law enforcement officers contacted 328,627 boaters, made 638 BUI arrests, and issued 42,442 citations and warnings for safety violations.
Boaters can learn more about BUI laws in Washington State and about the risks of boating under the influence by visiting boatsober.org.