Operation Dry Water will increase patrols on Tennessee lakes July 4
TWRA officers and other law enforcement agencies will be out on the lakes in force — including Norris Lake, shown here — this holiday weekend looking for people operating their boats under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or otherwise driving boats recklessly. (photo:G. Chambers Williams III )
TWRA and other law-enforcement officers will be out on the lakes in force looking for violators, and “BUI” won’t be tolerated any more than “DUI,” the agency says.
The increased enforcement effort, which is made necessary by the sheer numbers of boaters expected to be on the water, is part of TWRA’s “2025 Operation Dry Water,” the agency said in a public announcement.
So, in addition to other violations, ranging from reckless boating to fishing without a license, the agency will place special emphasis on BUI offenders from July 4-6 (Friday through Sunday).
“Over the course of the three-day holiday period, law enforcement officers will also be working to increase public awareness of the dangers of boating under the influence of alcohol or drugs, for both operators and passengers,” the agency’s announcement said.
“Boaters will notice an overall increase in officer patrols on the water,” it noted. “The combined efforts of the participating law-enforcement agencies have made a positive impact on the removal of impaired operators from the state’s waterways to provide a safe and enjoyable experience for boaters.”
Lt. Col Matt Majors of the TWRA Boating and Law Enforcement Division said:
“Driving a boat while under the influence of alcohol or drugs is a preventable crime, and if found doing so by our wildlife officers, you will be arrested and taken to jail.
“There are no differences in operating a car, truck, or a boat while impaired, so leave the drugs and alcohol at home. It is our mission to create a safe and enjoyable boating experience for all those who boat in Tennessee.”
The agency said that Operation Dry Water began in 2009 and has been a highly successful campaign drawing public attention to the dangers of boating under the influence.
“To support the enforcement and education initiative, the TWRA is partnering with the U.S. Coast Guard, the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators, and Mothers Against Drunk Driving,” the agency said, adding that alcohol use is the leading contributing factor in recreational boater deaths.
“Sun, wind, noise, vibration, and motion intensify the effects of alcohol, drugs, and some medications,” the agency said.
Operating a boat with a Blood Alcohol Content of 0.08 percent or higher is illegal in Tennessee, the same as operating a motor vehicle, TWRA said.
Penalties may include fines, jail, boat impoundment and the loss of boat driving privileges.
