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What many people don’t realize, Reams said, is Wildlife officers are well-trained in detecting and dealing with drunken boat operators. “We just finished a 24-hour block of instruction,” he said yesterday. “We’re probably one of the most well-trained agencies in the state.”
Not only does Wildlife use the same land field sobriety tests as other law enforcement agencies, but also they have their own onboard tests they use before taking a suspect ashore, Reams said.
Being part of the enforcement effort means Wildlife will have extra patrols on Lake Gaston and Roanoke Rapids Lake.
Reams said operating a boat while impaired presents different dangers than operating a vehicle while impaired.
Even before exceeding the legal limit of 0.08 blood alcohol content, the ability to distinguish colors is impaired, he said, which means boaters’ judgment of navigation lights becomes distorted. “You can’t distinguish a boat that’s on land from one that’s on water.”
On the road, Reams said, “There are lines to stay between. On the lake it’s a free-for-all.”
Wildlife said in a press release operating a recreational vessel while under the influence of an impairing substance or with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 or higher is against the law and penalties may include fines up to $1,000 and jail.
Operation Dry Water is coordinated by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators, working with the U.S. Coast Guard and partner agencies, such as the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission.
During this weekend’s Operation Dry Water officers will conduct vessel safety inspections and random checkpoints to alert them to possible intoxicated operators.
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Question wrote on Jun 29, 2009 2:33 PM: