This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Crime & Safety

Operation Dry Water Targets Boating Under The Influence

Connecticut law enforcement joins in nationwide effort.

Connecticut’s participation in Operation Dry Water, a nationwide effort focused on boating under the influence law enforcement and education, got underway Friday with a press conference at the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection Marine Headquarters in Old Lyme.

The program, coordinated by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators, was launched in 2009 and is run on the weekend prior to the Independence Day holiday weekend to discourage the use of alcohol and drugs by boat operators as the prime season for boating begins.

Susan Frechette, DEP Deputy Commissioner of Environmental Conservation, opened the press conference, which also included members of the Connecticut State Police, DEP’s Environmental Conservation Police and the U.S. Coast Guard. 

Find out what's happening in East Havenwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“Connecticut has recently passed increasingly strict boating under the influence laws, but deterrence is still our best opportunity,” she said.

Col. Kyle Overturf, director of DEP Environmental Conservation Police, said that the operation would include “high-visibility initiatives” in several areas across the state, including Candlewood Lake and the Connecticut River. Overturf also said that the concentrated effort on the lower Connecticut River would include members of the DEP, Connecticut State Police, the United States Coast Guard and Old Saybrook police and also rely on the personnel attached to the Connecticut State Police Blood Alcohol Testing (BAT) mobile unit.

Find out what's happening in East Havenwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The BAT mobile will facilitate the operation by enabling land-based officers to test and process persons suspected of boating under the influence so that marine law enforcement officers could return to water patrols as quickly as possible.

Overturf said that last year 12 arrests were made in Connecticut for BUI. He also made it clear that the boating under the influence enforcement activities would continue beyond this weekend and that local police would also be on the lookout for offenders.

“I can assure you that our officers will be patrolling for boaters operating under the influence all summer long,”  Overturf said.

DEP Environmental Conservation Officer Holly Brenier added, “Boating under the influence also applies to drugs as well as alcohol. Some prescription medications can also affect the boater’s ability to safely operate a vessel upon the water.”

She also noted risks to passengers under the influence.

“Passengers who are intoxicated can easily slip and fall into the water, making swimming and even putting on a life jacket even more difficult for them.”

Brenier cited the scope and result of last year’s nationwide effort, in which she said law enforcement officers made contact with 40,000 vessels and resulted in 322 arrests for drunken boating.

Brenier concluded her remarks with this: “Numerous officers will be out in force this weekend in search of impaired boaters, sending a very clear message [that] boating under the influence will not be tolerated.”

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.