Operation Dry Water (ODW) announces the release of a powerful public service announcement (PSA) that focuses on the dangers and consequences of boating under the influence of alcohol. According to the U.S. Coast Guard’s 2013 Recreational Boating Statistics, alcohol use is the leading known contributing factor in recreational boater deaths. The new Operation Dry Water PSA can be viewed and downloaded on the Operation Dry Water website, www.operationdrywater.org.

In the video, Mark Watts is interviewed about his experience following a fatal boating accident in Florida where Watts was operating a boat under the influence of alcohol. The boating accident resulted in the death of a 20-year-old woman and critical injuries to four others, including Mark himself. Watts is currently serving a six-year sentence in Florida state prison. The video also focuses on the message that boating under the influence of alcohol is a choice – one with serious and even fatal consequences.

Operation Dry Water is the nation’s boating under the influence (BUI) awareness and enforcement campaign. The mission of Operation Dry Water, and all the law enforcement agencies and boating safety partners that participate, is to raise public awareness about the dangers of boating under the influence and to reduce the number of deaths on the water related to alcohol consumption.

About Operation Dry Water

To help draw public attention to the dangers of boating under the influence of alcohol and drugs, in 2009, the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators launched, in partnership with the United States Coast Guard, Operation Dry Water – the nation’s boating under the influence awareness and enforcement campaign. This year’s Operation Dry Water weekend is June 27-29.

In addition to the year-round outreach efforts of the campaign, local, state and federal law enforcement agencies and boating safety partners participate in Operation Dry Water weekend, a nationwide three-day heightened BUI enforcement weekend.

In 2013, more than 6,200 law enforcement officers across the country participated in the three-day heightened BUI enforcement weekend, which resulted in 290 BUI arrests nationwide. Officers also made contact with more the 144,000 boaters, educating them about boating under the influence and safe boating practices.

To find out more about Operation Dry Water or register your agency to participate in the campaign, visit operationdrywater.org.

Logo courtesy Operation Dry Water