(KNOX) – The North Dakota Game and Fish Department and Minnesota DNR will participate in Operation Dry Water as part of a nationally coordinated effort to increase knowledge about the dangers of boating under the influence.
The goal is to reduce the number of accidents and deaths associated with alcohol and drug use on state waterways.
ODW weekend, July 4-6, is the national weekend of heightened enforcement directed at boating under the influence laws and recreational boater outreach.
While educating boaters about the hazards associated with boating while under the influence of alcohol or drugs is a year-round effort, on ODW weekend the Game and Fish and Minnesota DNR game wardens focus on the water, informing boaters about safe boating practices, and removing impaired operators from the water.
Tips for staying safe on the water:
• Boat sober – Alcohol use is the leading contributing factor in recreational boater deaths. Alcohol and drug use impair a boater’s judgment, balance, vision and reaction time.
• Wear your life jacket – 85% of drowning victims nationwide were not wearing a life jacket.
• Take the online boating safety education course – 71% of deaths nationwide occurred on boats where the operator had not received boating safety instruction.
Regardless of how safe and cautious boaters are on the water, accidents happen. If a boating accident involves injury, death or disappearance of a person, an accident report must be completed and sent to the North Dakota Game and Fish Department within 48 hours of the occurrence.
If property damage exceeds $2,000, but no deaths or injuries occur, a boat operator has five days to file a report.
These reporting requirements are mandatory whether there is one or more boats involved.
A boat accident form is available on the Game and Fish Department website, gf.nd.gov, at any Game and Fish office or by contacting a local game warden.
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