This holiday weekend, The Maine Warden Service will be actively patrolling Maine waterways, keeping Maine boaters safe, and enforcing Maine’s boating laws in order to raise awareness about operating under the influence, removing boaters who are operating impaired, abiding by the Headway Speed law, and ensuring that boats are registered and boaters are wearing life jackets.

“Boating is wonderful way to enjoy Maine’s waters, but we want everyone to enjoy their summer on the water in a safe, responsible manner,” said Commissioner Judy Camuso of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. 

The outreach and enforcement campaign is part of a national campaign known as Operation Dry Water, which is a year-round boating under the influence awareness and enforcement campaign with the mission of reducing the number of alcohol and drug-related incidents and fatalities through increased awareness and a more visible deterrent to alcohol and drug-use on the water.

“Alcohol use is the leading factor in boating deaths throughout the country,” said Maine Game Warden Lieutenant Jason Luce. “Maine Game Wardens will be patrolling lakes and ponds throughout the state to ensure that we all can safely enjoy Maine’s waters.”

If you are out boating this weekend, remember:

• Think twice before you or a passenger drinks and boats. Boating under the influence (BUI) is illegal. Operating a boat with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or higher is against Maine law.
• Register your boat. Go online at www.mefishwildlife.com or visit your town office. Funds from boating registrations and milfoil stickers help protect boaters and our lakes.
• Always wear a life jacket.
• Stay alert and be aware of others on the water.
• Always operate your boat at a safe and reasonable speed for your surroundings.
• Be mindful of headway speed areas on Maine’s waters, and obey all boating laws.
• If your boat has an attachable engine cut-off switch, utilize it.
• Make sure your boat is equipped with all the proper safety equipment, including wearable life jackets for all on board
• Always tell someone where you are going, and when you will be back.

Maine’s boating activity increases in July, and the July Fourth Holiday weekend brings a high volume of recreational boating traffic to Maine’s waters. The Maine Warden Service oversees the enforcement of laws and rules pertaining to watercraft as well as the safety of all boaters on the inland waterways of the state. Last year, boating activity increased throughout the state during the pandemic, and nationally, boating activity increased by approximately 25% last year.

During Operation Dry Water in 2020, the Maine Warden Service had over 80 officers patrolling Maine waters, amassing nearly 1,200 hours of keeping Maine’s waters safe. The Warden Service had contact with nearly 1,900 boats and over 5,600 boaters, and arrested one boater who had a blood alcohol level of .16.

A recent report from the US Coast Guard released the following information regarding boating in the United States that showed the impact of life jackets, alcohol and boating safety instruction:

• Where cause of death was known, 75% of fatal boating accident victims drowned. Of those drowning victims with reported life jacket usage, 86% were not wearing a life jacket.

• Alcohol use is the leading known contributing factor in fatal boating accidents; where the primary cause was known, it was listed as the leading factor in 18% of deaths.

• Where instruction was known, 77% of deaths occurred on boats where the operator did not receive boating safety instruction. Only 12% percent of deaths occurred on vessels where the operator was known to have received a nationally-approved boating safety education certificate. You can take a boating safety course online at https://www.maine.gov/ifw/programs-resources/educational-programs/safety-courses/boating-safety.html

Please do your part to keep Maine waters safe.