The Fourth of July is one of the biggest boating holidays in the country. The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission once again joined Operation Dry Water to encourage boating safety across the state’s bodies of water.
On July 4-6, the commission partnered with other agencies to help enforce safe boating during the busy holiday weekend.
This year, like in 2024, the commission deployed 153 officers to help enforce safe boating. They contacted 4,189 boaters and 1169 vessels. Last year, they contacted 4967 boaters and 1332 vessels.
BUIs
A total of 43 BUIs were issued with 39 for alcohol impairment and four for drug impairment. Last year, 37 people were charged with BUI, including both drugs and alcohol. The highest BUI was 0.24. Last year’s was 0.18. The legal limit is 0.08, but boaters are encouraged to not drink and operate a vessel.
There was a decrease in the number of boating warning this year with 598 given compared to 704 in 2024.
There was an increase in both non-boating violations and number of boating incidents compared to 2024. There were 114 non-boating violations this year compared to 82 in 2024. There were two more boating incidents this year with eight, compared to six in 2024.
The statistics provided by NCWRC law enforcement do not include incidents as a result of Tropical Storm Chantal. None of the reported incidents were fatal.
“We are grateful that no lives are lost as a result of incidents this year and appreciative of the cooperation of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, N.C. Highway Patrol, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, and other state and local partners that help keep boaters safe over the weekend.” Said Lt. Forrest Orr of the NCWRC Law Enforcement Division.
Prep for big weekend
On June 30, ahead of the always busy Fourth of July weekend on the water, the commission announced they would once again participate in Operation Dry Water.
Operation Dry Water is a national campaign observed July 4-6 to help with safe boating during the busy holiday weekend. It was developed through the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators and U.S. Coast Guard.
The focus of the nationwide campaign is to heighten enforcement and awareness about the dangers of boating while impaired. The heightened public presence on the water during the holiday weekend often leads to an increase in boating incidents and fatalities. Alcohol use is the leading known contributing factor in recreational boater deaths, the commission said.
Wildlife officers increased water patrols to provide boaters with information on the dangers of impaired boating and enforcing state laws on the water.
“Boating under the influence continues to be a serious preventable problem,” Orr said before the holiday weekend. “Our goal is to create a safer environment for all recreational boaters, paddlers and waterway users. That’s why NCWRC is
joining agencies across the country through Operation Dry Water to prevent incidents, injuries and fatalities caused by impaired boating.”
It is unlawful to operate a recreational vessel with an alcohol concentration of .08 or higher, or while being appreciably impaired by alcohol, drugs or other impairing substances.
In North Carolina, there were 15 fatalities as a result of boating incidents in 2024. NCWRC law enforcement reminds boaters to always boat sober and to wear a life jacket when on or around the water.
Additional support for Operation Dry Water and the Governor’s Highway Safety Program’s Operation Booze it & Lose It camping includes agencies such as the N.C. Highway Patrol, N.C. Alcohol Law Enforcement and N.C. Forensic Test for Alcohol Branch.
Down in Georgia
North Carolina’s southern neighboring state Georgia had one death and 18 injured on the water on July 4. Just south of Macon, Ga., a man drowned after falling off a boat while fishing at a private pond.
A total of 14 injuries stemmed from two boat explosions. Seven were reported injured when a boat exploded on Lake Lanier in Hall County, Ga., and seven more were injured when a boat exploded on Lake Nottely in Union County, Ga.
Other injuries on Georgia waters came after a pontoon boat capsized on Lake Oconee in Putnam County, Ga., a man falling off a jet ski in Baldwin County, Ga., and an 18-year-old being struck by lightning on Lake Blue Ridge.