AUGUSTA, Maine — In the wake of the nationwide law enforcement campaign to curb drinking and boating, the results of Operation Dry Water in Maine are now in.
Maine game wardens reported very heavy boating traffic during the weekend of July 6-8, with the hot weather surely playing a role in people’s affinity for water.
Eighty game wardens participated in the three-day boating safety effort. Those game wardens spent over 1,200 hours enforcing recreational boating activity, inspecting nearly 2,500 watercraft with 5,400 operators and passengers.
While most boaters adhere to the rules of safety on the water, those that were found in violation of Maine’s boating laws received either a warning, were summonsed to court or arrested.
The most common violations wardens encountered related to safety equipment, registration requirements, safe operation and boating while intoxicated. More than 100 summonses and 328 warnings were issued to boaters during that weekend. Eight people were arrested for boating while intoxicated across Maine, with the highest blood alcohol content (BAC) coming in at .22 BAC, Maine’s BAC limit being .08 for those 21 years old or more.
Game wardens encountered close to 50 non-boating-related violations as well, two of which pertained to adults who provided a location for minors to consume alcohol.
Maine’s game wardens will continue this focus all summer, keeping waterways safe while removing operators from the water found drinking and boating.
Wardens urge those on the water to keep boating laws in mind to help keep this summer safe for everyone.
