AUSTIN, TX – Texas Game Wardens reported the highest number of boating while intoxicated charges in seven years during the Fourth of July holiday weekend.
According to a Texas Parks and Wildlife Department press release, Game Wardens contacted more than 10,800 vessels while participating in Operation Dry Water, a nationwide campaign focused on reducing the number of alcohol- and drug-related incidents and fatalities through awareness and enforcement of boating under the influence on the state’s waterways.
Between July 3-5, a total of 417 game wardens contacted 10,817 vessels, issued 1,466 citations and 1,974 warnings for various boating safety violations, filed 62 BWI charges and four driving while intoxicated charges.
Wardens also made 20 additional arrests for various other offenses.
Despite responding to 25 boating incidents over the weekend, game wardens did not receive any reports of boating-related fatalities, although numerous incidents involved serious bodily injury.
There were also two open-water drownings; one at Lake Hawkins in Wood County and one at Lake Palo Pinto in Palo Pinto County, along with numerous calls for boating assistance statewide.
“Thousands of Texans and visitors safely enjoyed time on the water this holiday weekend, and we're grateful the majority of boaters made responsible decisions by wearing life jackets, avoiding alcohol, and watching out for each other,” Col. Ron VanderRoest, TPWD Law Enforcement Division director, stated. “At the same time, the two lives lost are a sad reminder of how quickly tragedy can strike and the importance of remaining vigilant.”
In addition to boating safety enforcement, game wardens responded to numerous significant incidents, including several vessel collisions, a reported hit-and-run involving a personal watercraft, medical emergencies, arrests for possession of controlled substances, multiple suspected human trafficking cases discovered during calls for service and proactive enforcement, and the rescue of a kayaker who had been in the water for approximately three hours without a life jacket after capsizing.
Boating safety education was a priority throughout the weekend.
Through TPWD’s Adopt-A-Ramp program, their volunteers made 393 contacts with boaters at Joe Pool Lake, Lake Lavon and Lake Bastrop, sharing information about boating laws, life jacket use, and safe boating practices before people launched.
As part of the outreach effort, TPWD also hosted a Fill the Boat life jacket donation event at Cedar Hill State Park.
The event collected 23 adult life jackets, three youth and infant life jackets, and three canine life jackets.
Once inspected, the donated life jackets will be distributed to area life jacket loaner stations to help make safety equipment more accessible to the public.
“Texas Game Wardens did exactly what Operation Dry Water is designed to do by identifying and removing impaired operators before someone gets hurt,” said VanderRoest. “While we’re proud of the work wardens accomplished this weekend, the safest holiday weekend is one where everyone chooses to avoid alcohol and drugs on the water.”
Texas Game Wardens will continue proactive boating safety patrols, education efforts, and outreach throughout the summer, encouraging everyone on the water to wear a properly fitted life jacket, designate a sober operator, monitor changing weather conditions, and complete boater education.
More information about boating safety, boating laws, and boater education requirements is available at https://tpwd.texas.gov/fishboat/boat/.
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