Boating Under the Influence
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Officials at the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency said if you are considering operating a boat while drinking during the 4th of July weekend , you should think again. “There’s no place for it on the water or on the roads,” said John Weaver, a boater. Wildlife officers kicked off their annual ‘Operation Dry Water’ campaign Friday, which ran through Sunday. Operation Dry Water is held during the weekend prior to the July 4th holiday to give Boating Under the Influence (BUI) enforcement high visibility during the peak boating season. “There is absolutely no alcohol allowed on any TWRA lakes,” said William Clyatt, concessionaire at Lake Graham in east Madison County. Clyatt said a recent incident proves drinking and boating can be dangerous. “Storm came up late in the afternoon, (a) boat capsized,” said Clyatt. According to Clyatt, he had just closed the lake when he heard someone beating on the door on the concession earlier this year. A fisherman had swam to the shore, but did not know the whereabouts of his fishing partner. “He didn’t know if he had drowned or if he had gotten out,” said Clyatt. Clyatt said the rescue squad, sheriff’s department and wildlife officers were called. They later found the other fisherman had swam to shore on a different end of the lake. Clyatt said officials believed alcohol was a factor. “It didn’t turn out good for the person doing it,” said Clyatt. Officials said the alcohol limit for operating a boat is .08 percent, the same as the limit for operating a car. Officials said if you are caught boating under the influence, you will have to leave the lake and your boat could be impounded. You could be arrested.
