Game wardens will be on Maine lakes this holiday weekend looking for boaters under the influence

Inland Fisheries and Wildlife wardens might be patrolling Maine’s lakes this weekend to make sure boaters aren’t consuming and boating whereas impaired. Operation Dry Water is a nationwide program that IFW Spokesman Mark Latti says Maine has used for 10 years.

“We’re requested why we do that,” Latti stated. “Early in my profession on the company, we had a younger woman hit by a drunk boater who later died on a July 4th Weekend. There’s all the time the potential for one thing tragic like this to occur, particularly if you mix alcohol and boating.”

Latti says final 12 months 80 officers checked 1,700 boats on the July 4th weekend. One boater was arrested with a blood alcohol stage of .17, greater than twice the authorized restrict. Latti says having wardens on the water and visual to boaters is an efficient deterrent.

“Having excessive visibility, having numerous officers on the busier lakes and through celebrations. Individuals know we’re on the market preserving the water protected, and we imagine that has an influence on limiting alcohol use whereas boating,” Latti stated.

Wardens will even guarantee there are sufficient life jackets on boats for all passengers on board. Latti says kids underneath 10 should put on a life jacket.

Final 12 months, Operation Dry Water resulted in 638 boaters throughout the nation being arrested for driving underneath the affect.