Nearly 500 law enforcement agencies participated in the 18th annual campaign weekend, removing 486 impaired operators from the water

LEXINGTON, Ky., Oct. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Nearly 300,000 recreational boaters were contacted by law enforcement officers during the 18th annual Operation Dry Water heightened awareness and enforcement weekend, demonstrating the nationwide reach of the effort to prevent boating under the influence and promote safe boating.

From July 3-5, 487 law enforcement agencies and 7,729 officers participated in the three-day national campaign. Officers contacted 97,161 vessels and 296,717 boaters while working to identify impaired operators, educate the boating public and encourage safe, responsible behavior on the water.

During the weekend, officers made 486 boating under the influence (BUI) arrests, removing hundreds of impaired operators from the nation’s waterways. Participating officers also issued 27,380 safety warnings and 9,532 citations, reflecting the campaign’s combined emphasis on enforcement, education and prevention.

The campaign’s reach grew considerably in 2026. Compared with the 2025 heightened awareness and enforcement weekend, 36 additional agencies participated, and officers contacted 64,023 more boaters — an increase of approximately 28%. Vessel contacts also increased from 87,830 in 2025 to 97,161 in 2026.

“Operation Dry Water demonstrates the tremendous impact we can have when thousands of law enforcement officers and boating safety professionals work together toward a common goal,” said Col. David Trader, chair of the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA). “Every impaired operator removed from the water eliminates a serious risk to everyone sharing our waterways. Just as important are the conversations officers have with boaters about the dangers of boating under the influence and the need to make responsible choices before they ever leave the dock.”

Agencies from 49 states and five U.S. territories participated and reported results in 2026, underscoring the nationwide scope of the campaign.

While enforcement is a critical component of Operation Dry Water, education and prevention remain central to the campaign’s mission. Each interaction provides officers with an opportunity to educate boaters about the risks and consequences of boating under the influence and reinforce safe boating practices.

Now in its 18th year, the annual heightened awareness and enforcement weekend is a cornerstone of Operation Dry Water’s year-round effort to reduce alcohol- and drug-related incidents and fatalities on the nation’s waterways. Through increased public awareness, boater education and coordinated enforcement, the campaign works to strengthen the deterrence of impaired boating and encourage boaters to make safe choices every time they are on the water.

Complete results from the 2026 Operation Dry Water heightened awareness and enforcement weekend are available at OperationDryWater.org.

Operation Dry Water (ODW) is a year-round boating under the influence awareness and enforcement campaign with the mission of reducing the number of alcohol- and drug-related incidents and fatalities through increased recreational boater awareness and by fostering a stronger and more visible deterrent to alcohol and drug use on the water.

The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) coordinates the Operation Dry Water campaign in partnership with law enforcement agencies and outreach partners nationwide through a grant from the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund administered by the U.S. Coast Guard.

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SOURCE Operation Dry Water