As boaters in Oakland County, Michigan set to celebrate the Fourth of July weekend, local law enforcement is enacting Operation Dry Water to ensure safety on the county's many lakes. According to CBS News, the Oakland County Sheriff's Office, along with agencies across the state, will be increasing patrols from July 4-6 to prevent boating under the influence and other unsafe activities.
"We're looking for people doing reckless things, making poor choices and trying to prevent those accidents," Oakland County Sheriff’s Office Lieutenant Brian Burwell told FOX 17 Online. The initiative, which began in 2009, aims to crack down on the consumption of alcohol or drugs while operating boats. Last year saw 584 nationwide arrests and over 43,000 citations during Operation Dry Water efforts.
Educating the public is a central goal of the campaign. In a statement obtained by CBS News, Burwell said, "When we do encounter people, we try to educate them on the law. Some people are going to get tickets, some might end up getting arrested, but always we're trying to educate people on safe behavior." He recounted an incident where a man on a jet ski unknowingly sped through a swimming area, illustrating the need for enhanced awareness among boaters.
Lt. Burwell emphasized the necessity to properly equip oneself with safety gear and to adhere to boating regulations. "We want to raise that awareness to wear your lifejackets, have access to lifejackets, safety equipment, throwable devices, making sure not only do you have those but they're properly sized, properly fit, people understand how to put them on," Burwell said in an interview with CBS News. In 2024, the Oakland County Search and Rescue Team responded to 13 drownings, a number they hope to see reduced this year with increased patrolling and education.
With these concerted efforts, law enforcement officials encourage everyone on the water to follow the rules—for example, navigating counterclockwise on inland lakes—and to always check fuel levels before venturing out. To further assist boaters, the Oakland County Sheriff offers free boating safety classes, as reported by FOX 2 Detroit.
