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Coast Guard Cracking Down On Drunk Boaters This Weekend

MIAMI (CBS4)- The Coast Guard is out in force this weekend cruising the waters and administering sobriety tests as part of a national crackdown called "Operation Dry Water."

A statement from the Coast Guard in St. Petersburg said that the guardians along with the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators and other state and local law enforcement agencies are engaging in the national, coordinated effort through Sunday, "aimed at reducing boating under the influence and the number of alcohol-related accidents and fatalities."

So law enforcement officers from the Coast Guard, and local agencies are spending the weekend "looking for boat operators whose blood alcohol content exceeds the limit of 0.08 percent."

Lt. Brian Murphy, Enforcement Division Chief at Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg, says the goal is to "get the word out that choosing to drink and operate a boat is a bad idea. Not only is it against the law, but it's equally as dangerous as drinking and driving a motor vehicle."

And punishable by fines, jailing loss of boating and perhaps motor vehicle driving privileges.

Check out our Guide to Preparing Your Boat For A Storm.

For all boating related stories, click here.

 

(©2011 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. CBS4 news partner The Miami Herald contributed material for this report)

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