BUI Patrols: Fourth of July San Diego | NBC 7
The San Diego Harbor Police Department will conduct heightened patrols, vessel safety checks, and sobriety tests for boaters during the Fourth of July weekend as part of their participation in a nationwide campaign, according to a press release shared by the Port of San Diego.
The three day campaign, running from July 4 to July 6, is named Operation Dry Water and is aimed at preventing boating under the influence and promoting safe boating practices across the United States.
Last year, during the 2024 Fourth of July holiday weekend, law enforcement officers across the nation made 584 boating under the influence (BUI) arrests, and issued more than 33,500 citations and warnings for safety violations in the water, according to data shared by Operation Dry Water.
Alcohol use was the leading known contributing factor in fatal boating accidents nationwide in 2024, according to the campaign.
The department encourages those going out on the San Diego Bay to designate a sober driver, and make sure that they have all the required safety equipment, including lifejackets, aboard the vessel at all times.
Harbor Police would also like to remind the public that boating under the influence is just as dangerous as driving under the influence and carries similar legal consequences.