CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Boating under the influence of drugs or alcohol continues to be a problem on waterways across the Mountain State, police said.
“When we have accidents or fatalities, a lot of times alcohol or other things are involved. If one person is out there doing it, obviously, it’s a problem,” said Sgt. Jerry Payne with the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources.
In a nationwide effort to keep boaters safe, the DNR will be participating in “Operation Dry Water” June 26-28. The three-day weekend is meant to increase patrols, spread awareness and, most importantly, reduce the number of deaths caused by alcohol or drugs out on the water.
“On a busy night, you might catch one or two that are over the limit, which is just like driving .08,” said Payne. “You have a lot of fireworks shows coming up on the Fourth (of July) and when you got more people, you’re obviously going to have more of a problem.”
According to the West Virginia Boating Rules and Laws, no person should operate any motorboat, jet ski or other motorized vessel in the state while under the influence of alcohol, any controlled substance or any other drug, while having a blood alcohol content of .08 or more.
Payne said most boating accidents are alcohol-related and people often don’t realize when they have reached the point of intoxication.
“It’s been proven, with studies, that the effects of the waves and the heat of the sun and then the alcohol makes you way less able to handle that boat,” he said.
“If I’ve investigated 10 wrecks, then eight of them, if they’re late at night, alcohol would be a causing factor.”
Payne said intoxicated motorists on the road are slightly easier to identify compared to the water.
“If somebody’s swerving going down the road and hitting their breaks, it’s easier to identify just by the way they’re running. But if they’re on a boat, everybody’s swerving, everybody’s bouncing around, so you got to really be keened in on what the operator is doing,” he said.
Officers will be checking for safety equipment this weekend, as well as other reasons to check boaters for intoxication.