Boaters heading to Tims Ford Lake this Fourth of July weekend should expect a visible law enforcement presence on the water. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) is participating in Operation Dry Water July 3–5, a national boating under the influence enforcement and awareness campaign that runs annually around the holiday.

TWRA game wardens made 24 BUI arrests across the state during last year’s July 4th period. One person died in a boating fatality on Center Hill Lake.

“Operating a boat under the influence of alcohol or drugs is selfish and a 100 percent preventable crime,” said TWRA Lt. Col. Matt Majors. “A boat is not a toy, and each year we lose precious lives because of the actions of boat-impaired operators.”

Tennessee law sets the legal limit for operating a boat at a blood alcohol content of .08 percent — the same threshold as driving a motor vehicle. Penalties for BUI can include fines, jail time, boat impoundment and loss of boating privileges. Officers will be working alongside the U.S. Coast Guard and other agencies throughout the weekend.

The agency notes that sun, wind, noise, vibration and motion on the water can intensify the effects of alcohol, drugs and some medications — making impairment on a boat more dangerous than the same level of intoxication on land. •

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