Law enforcement officers were scattered around the state last weekend monitoring lakes and rivers for drunk boaters as part of the national Operation Dry Water campaign.
Susan Stocker, boating law administrator and education coordinator for the Iowa DNR, has compiled the results. “Throughout the weekend, a total of 81 officers…were able to contact 380 boats and on those boats were 1,417 individuals,” Stocker said.
Over the three-day period, 10 people were arrested for boating while intoxicated (BWI). Officials also issued 161 warnings or citations.
The 10 BWI arrests this year was up from two arrests during the same enforcement effort last year. Considering the number of boats officers made contact with, Stocker believes most boat operators are being responsible.
“One BWI is too many, but what I believe the numbers are (showing) is we are having designated drivers, which is a very good thing,” Stocker said. Four years ago this week, Iowa law was changed — reducing the blood alcohol level for boating while intoxicated from .10 to .08 percent — the same as a motor vehicle.