Coast Guard Cracking Down On Drunk Boating Over July 4th Weekend
MIAMI (CBS4) - A day on the water can be a lot of fun over the July 4th holiday weekend, but state and local enforcement agencies want all boaters to play it safe.
In an effort to crack down of drunken boat driving, the U.S. Coast Guard along with local agencies have increased their patrols as part of Operation Dry Water, a national campaign to curb 'boating under the influence'.
If marine law enforcement finds that a boat operator is BUI, the vessel's voyage will be terminated, the boat may be impounded and the operator may be arrested. Penalties may include fines, imprisonment, impoundment of the boat, loss of boating privileges, even loss of driving privileges.
Last year, 69 people in Florida died in accidents where alcohol played a factor.
According to the U.S. Coast Guard, the use of alcohol is involved in about a 17% of all recreational boating fatalities.
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