Police officers from Greenwich, Conn. announced their plan to catch not only drunk drivers, but drunk boaters as well, during the upcoming July 4th holiday.
The GPD Marine Division attended Operation Dry Water, a yearly campaign against drinking while boating, celebrated June 27- 29 this year. The event was coordinated with the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA), the U.S. Coast Guard and other partner agencies, to increase safety awareness on recreational boating.
"Our agency encourages boaters to enjoy the boating season with friends and family, and we also encourage you do it in a safe and responsible way," Greenwich Police Chief James Heavey told Greenwich Times.
In observance of this campaign, the police boats will be patrolling daily from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. in high traffic regions. Checkpoints, as well as routine stops, were created. The police did not disclose where exactly these checkpoints would be, but they stated that they were likely to go where there were many boaters.
The boating season in Greenwich reached its peak before the Fourth of July. It also marked the start of the summer season. This campaign, aside from apprehending possible violators, also sought to raise awareness about the dangers of boating under the influence.
Alcohol was one of the largest reasons of boating deaths and accidents every year, according to data provided by the U.S Coast Guard. In 2012, alcohol caused more than 140 boating accidents in the United States. The deaths related to boating increased by 40 percent the same year and a considerable percentage were linked to boating under the influence.
The most recent example of boating under the influence was the case of 30-year-old John Morris, a firefighter from New Rochelle, N.Y. Morris died after his 27-foot boat rammed against the seawall of Stamford Harbor. Investigators found that Morris's alcohol level was recorded at 0.25 percent, 300 times as much as the legal limit.
