DNR Officers Crackdown On Boating While Intoxicated

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources announced late last week that officers will watch for impaired boaters on Indiana’s waterways. The announcement is part of the department’s partnership with Operation Dry Water, a national campaign to prevent boating under the influence.

DNR public relations captain Jet Quillen says the policy is about safety.

“We encourage our boaters to go out and enjoy our waterways, but we just ask that they do it in a safe way,” Quillen says.

He added that boaters can expect extra patrols in Indiana waterways.

“You’ll see an increased number of officers on patrol, more boats on the water than we normally would have," Quillen says. "It’s going to be on a holiday weekend this year, so we’ll already have an increased presence on our waterways in Indiana, but we will be focusing a little more on BWI.”

BWI stands for boating while intoxicated. It is illegal to operate a vessel with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or higher.