JORDAN LAKE, N.C. – As Independence Day celebrations continue on lakes and waterways this weekend, safety remains a top priority for authorities in Operation Dry Water, an increased crackdown on drunk driving.
According to the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, there have been 65 reported boating accidents this year, resulting in 10 deaths, prompting heightened vigilance over the holiday weekend.
This annual initiative, which is now in full swing, aims to prevent accidents due to impaired vessel operation.
Wildlife officers Kirby Lambert and Jacob Pattison are on the front lines of this effort, patrolling the waters to ensure safety regulations are being followed.
“When you see the blue lights and the boat coming, there's two guys in uniform, I know a lot of people get a little scared, they're like, 'Why are they stopping us?' But we try to be respectful,” Lambert said.
North Carolina has strict drunk driving laws that are similar to those for driving automobiles. Boaters are prohibited from operating a watercraft with a blood alcohol content of 0.08% or higher, and violations can result in serious legal consequences.
Lambert says the law is important.
“When you're on a boat and you're drinking and driving, you're potentially putting the lives of other people, the people on the boat, the people who work here or just ordinary families enjoying the lake,” he said.
Operation Dry Water is not just about enforcement, but also education and awareness.
Local, state and federal agencies, as well as advocacy groups like Mothers Against Drunk Driving, are working together to spread the message of responsible boating. Ollie Jeffers, MADD chapter president, said of her motivation for getting involved:
“I've been doing this for 27 years and once you start it's hard to quit because it's so rewarding,” Jeffers said.
She recalled a Fourth of July incident in which a woman in her community was struck and killed by a drunk driver while on her way home after celebrating Independence Day with her daughter in Raleigh.
“When I say tragic … it's tragic. Can you imagine them, the family … just celebrating? Everybody's having a good time and then they get a call that their mom's been killed by a drunk driver,” Jeffers said.
The additional law enforcement presence will remain strengthened until July 6th.
Wildlife officers conduct safety inspections to ensure boats are equipped with up-to-date safety gear and life jackets, which must be worn at all times by everyone, including children under the age of 13.
