Many are hitting the lakes as it heats up and that includes law enforcement in several counties across Wisconsin all making sure boaters are staying sober behind the wheel.
We're just a week away from July 4th, a weekend when many will take in the holiday on the lake. That proximity in time to one of the most active lake holidays of the year ultimately makes this weekend a timely reminder that drinking and driving on the water is against the law.
Many had the same idea Saturday morning in green bay.
"Definitely a lot of boats out there today," says Kevin Prien of De Pere who enjoyed the morning in the bay.
"We were out fishing and it was pretty nice this morning," adds Bernie Erickson of Green Bay who caught a few fish before the heat and wind picked up.
But joining them this weekend in a stepped up effort to crack down on drunken boating is the Coast Guard, police, sheriff's office, and DNR who are all apart of Operation Dry Water.
"It's a campaign to raise awareness for boating under the influence and alcohol and boating," says Austin Olmstead of the US Coast Guard in Green Bay.
Over the weekend they'll be pulling over boaters more than usual, just to make sure everyone is obeying the law and not drinking and driving.
"Just like driving an automobile you have no business driving an automobile or a boat drunk," says Erickson.
"It's good I mean people should be aware all the time. If they enforced it a lot more probably there would be a lot less people drinking on the water," adds Prien.
And what may surprise some isn't just the consequences for having a blood alcohol content at point .08 or higher.
"It can insure some pretty severe penalties, possibly jail time. You're boat may possibly be impounded," says Olmstead.
But what should also be of concern for those who take the risk is that driving a boat drunk, could affect whether you can get behind the wheel of a car if you’re caught.
"It could possibly get transferred to your driving record and affect your driving privileges," adds Olmstead.
So don't be surprised if you see extra boating enforcement this weekend or this summer trying to share a message that hopefully, you'll share with your kids.
"More aware we make them of stuff like this they’re gonna be careful too. Especially when you let them know what the consequences are," says Prien.
Because with 17 percent of all fatalities on the water last year being alcohol related, now's a good time to continue to change the culture.
Nearly 600 different Wisconsin departments including police, sheriffs and the Coast Guard are participating in Operation Dry Water this weekend. Don't be surprised if you run into some of them at some point.
