The Sarasota County Sheriff 's Office
has joined the U.S. Coast Guard and the
National Association of State Boating Law
Administrators in Operation Dry Water, June
27-29, the office has reported.
"Members of the Marine Patrol Unit will mon-
itor Sarasota County waterways to ensure
boaters operate safely and at posted speeds,
have proper safety equipment and avoid alco-
hol while at the helm of the boat," a news
release says. "This is the sixth year of this
operation," it adds.
"The goal of this safety initiative is to reduce
the number of accidents and fatalities through
heightened education and enforcement, par-
ticularly in regard to alcohol and drug-related
accidents," the release continues. "Alcohol
use while boating is the leading contributing
factor in recreational boater deaths on our
nation's waterways," it points out.
Thousands of local, state and federal law
enforcement officers and recreational boating
safety advocates are conducting similar cam-
paigns across the country, the release adds. To
learn, more visit operationdrywater.org. %
SHERIFF'S OFFICE JOINS OPERATION DRY WATER THIS MONTH
Image from the Operation Dry Water website
Sarasota News Leader June 27, 2014 Page 87
