Boaters heading out onto Colorado waters this weekend will see additional Colorado Parks and Wildlife officers enforcing boating under the influence (BUI) laws as part of the national Operation Dry Water campaign from July 2-July 4.
This three-day enforcement operation is timed closely to the July 4th holiday each year to educate boaters on the dangers of boating under the influence and reduce the number of accidents on our waterways.
“Boating is a favorite pastime of Coloradans and visitors alike, but we want to make sure that everyone is enjoying their time on the water responsibly,” said Grant Brown, boating safety program manager with Colorado Parks and Wildlife. “Alcohol use is the leading contributing factor in recreational boating deaths. Making the decision to boat under the influence is reckless. Boat smart, boat safe, boat sober.”
Operation Dry Water’s mission is to raise awareness among recreational boaters about the dangers and consequences of boating under the influence, which include:
- Alcohol impairs judgment, balance, vision and reaction time; on the water, which can increase fatigue and susceptibility to the effects of cold-water immersion.
- Sun, wind, noise, vibration and motion are added factors found in a boating environment; all of these intensify the effects of alcohol, drugs, and some medications. A general rule to remember is that one drink on the water is roughly equivalent to three drinks on land.
- Alcohol can be dangerous for passengers, too. Intoxication on board can cause injuries from slips, falls overboard, and other dangerous accidents.
Penalties for boating under the influence include receiving fines, having your boat impounded, potential jail time and loss of boating privileges. Boaters with a blood alcohol content (BAC) level above the .08 state limit should expect to be arrested for BUI. In Colorado, Operation Dry Water operations will include increased patrols and checkpoints. Despite increased patrol activity, the best enforcement tool CPW has is hearing from other boaters out on the water.
“If you’re on the water and see other boaters drinking while driving or acting dangerously on their watercraft, please let us know,” says Michael Haskins, Park Ranger at Chatfield State Park. “Just as you would call 911 to report a drunk driver, please call 911 to report drunk boating to allow dispatch to get the nearest authorities out to help eliminate potential safety issues for you, your family and fellow boaters.
The dangers of operating under the influence of marijuana are the same as those from alcohol, and the penalties are identical for either substance. Open display or use of marijuana is illegal on public property, which includes many of the lakes, reservoirs and rivers in Colorado.
In addition to recreating responsibly on Colorado’s waters, boaters are reminded to help keep state waterways clean from aquatic invasive species. Colorado’s waters are currently clear of the zebra and quagga mussels, two highly destructive invasive species. Due to the CPW mandatory boat inspection program, CPW decontaminated 100 mussel-fouled boats in 2020 before they launched in Colorado waters.
For more information on boating safety, visit cpw.state.co.us.