In an effort to keep Kentucky’s waterways safe for the approaching Independence Day vacation, game wardens from the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources will be stepping up their patrols around the state.
Operation Dry Water, a heightened awareness and enforcement campaign aimed at educating the public about the risks of boating while intoxicated (BUI), is being held concurrently with this intensified effort. The campaign’s goal is to decrease the amount of drug and alcohol-related events and fatalities that occur during the annual July 4 holiday by facilitating a national focus on BUI detection and enforcement.
According to Maj. David Marques, assistant director of Law Enforcement for Kentucky Fish and Wildlife, vessel operators make the option to consume alcohol and operate a vessel while intoxicated, and frequently, this decision has fatal consequences. Throughout the holiday, our game wardens will be on the lake to keep an eye out for anyone who might be impaired by drugs or alcohol.
For both boat operators and passengers, alcohol and drugs can impair judgment, balance, vision, and reaction time. Environmental stressors including the sun, wind, noise, vibration, and motion can exacerbate the negative effects of drugs, alcohol, and some prescriptions. They can also make people feel more exhausted.
Over 7,000 officers from 485 local, state, and federal agencies took part in Operation Dry Water nationwide in 2024. During the three-day weekend of increased BUI awareness and enforcement, law enforcement officials issued 43,554 citations and warnings for safety breaches, made 584 BUI arrests, and spoke with 296,190 boaters.
The Kentucky Fishing and Boating Guide, the regulations summary pamphlet, which is accessible online at fw.ky.gov and at all license sales locations, as well as at Operation Dry Water, provide additional information regarding boating laws.
In case of an emergency, call 911. Call 800-25-ALERT (800-252-5378) for non-emergency assistance, or get in touch with the closest Kentucky State Police post or local law enforcement. To reach a nearby marina, utilize marine channel 16.
The Lexington-based National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA), in collaboration with law enforcement and the U.S. Coast Guard, organizes Operation Dry Water every year.
Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, Kentucky
