State
and federal marine law enforcement officers will be working together
during Operation Dry Water, June 26-28 looking for boaters whose Blood
Alcohol Content exceeds the legal limit of .08%. U.S. Coast Guard photo
by Petty Officer 1st Class Adam Eggers
At approximately 9:00 p.m. a boatcrew from Coast Guard Station Montauk conducted a safety boarding of a 50-foot fishing vessel approximately half a mile from Montauk Inlet.
The Station Montauk boatcrew escorted the fishing vessel, with another passenger operating the vessel, into Montauk marine boat basin after noticing signs that the operator was under the influence.
On land, a Coast Guard boarding officer administered two field sobriety tests (FSTS) to the operator, which he was unable to pass.
Station Montauk crewmembers contacted the East Hampton Town Police Department who responded and administered two FSTS to the operator, which he also failed.
The operator was then transferred to the East Hampton Town Police headquarters in Wainscott, New York, for processing.
In another case, a boatcrew from Coast Guard Station Fire Island terminated the voyage of a 21-foot recreation vessel inside of Fire Island Inlet, New York, Monday.
While conducting a safety boarding aboard the vessel, the boatcrew’s boarding officer noticed signs that the operator of the recreational vessel was under the influence.
The boarding officer administered a series of FSTS to the operator, which he was unable to pass.
The operator was issued a citation for boating while intoxicated.
Thousands of law enforcement officers across the United States will be on heightened alert for those violating boating under the influence laws during the annual Operation Dry Water weekend, kicking off June 26-28.
Operation Dry Water is a nationally coordinated heightened awareness and enforcement campaign, focused on deterring boaters from boating under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
“The decision about whether to drink and boat under the influence is a choice every boater makes,” said John Fetterman, National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) deputy executive director. “Boating under the influence is a 100% preventable crime. Operation Dry Water, participating law enforcement agencies and our boating safety partners encourage boaters to stay safe by staying sober while boating.”