LEXINGTON, Ky. — The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators is calling on police chiefs to enlist their departments in Operation Dry Water 2025, a nationwide boating-under-the-influence (BUI) enforcement and education push set for July 4-6. The annual initiative pairs local, state and federal agencies with the U.S. Coast Guard to remove impaired operators from U.S. waterways and raise public awareness of the risks of alcohol and drug use on the water.
Participation is open to law-enforcement agencies in all states, territories and trusts. During the 2024 ODW weekend, 485 agencies deployed more than 7,100 officers, contacted 296,190 boaters, made 584 BUI arrests and issued 43,554 safety citations and warnings. Since the campaign’s launch in 2009, officers have taken 7,453 impaired boaters off the water while reaching more than 3.1 million recreational boaters.
“National Safe Boating Week (May 17-23) gives us a chance to reset and focus on what really matters — protecting lives on the water,” said Joe McCullough, chair of NASBLA. “We urge everyone heading out this season to put safety first: wear a life jacket, complete a boating safety course, and never boat under the influence.”
Agencies that register at OperationDryWater.org receive access to customizable press releases, fact sheets, social-media messages, talking points and operational templates to support pre-event outreach, saturation patrols, checkpoints and post-event reporting. Chiefs can also coordinate joint details with neighboring jurisdictions and invite local media for ride-alongs ahead of the holiday weekend to amplify deterrence.
Registration is free and opens the door to national recognition awards and year-round resources aimed at changing the culture of drinking and boating.
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