During the extended Independence Day weekend and throughout the remainder of the summer, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) will be focusing on boater safety by keeping impaired boaters off the water.
From July 3-5, 2026, Waterways Conservation Officers (WCOs) will join other law enforcement agencies across the country to conduct Operation Dry Water, a nationally coordinated campaign which includes enhanced Boating Under the Influence (BUI) enforcement on the water and at recreational boating checkpoints.
In partnership with the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators, the PFBC is working to increase boater awareness of the hazards associated with impaired boating, and to decrease the number of accidents and deaths attributed to impaired boating and other unsafe boating practices.
“The waters of the Commonwealth are shared by all of us, and they should be a safe place to enjoy,” said Col. Jeffrey Sabo, Director of the PFBC Bureau of Law Enforcement. “A boat operator’s judgment and reaction time are affected by alcohol and drugs the same way as when you’re driving a car on the road. That impairment can actually be greater on a boat because of the added stressors of sun, heat, wind, and noise.”
In Pennsylvania, it is unlawful to operate any watercraft, powered or unpowered, while impaired. The blood alcohol limit for boat operators is .08%, and WCOs are trained to recognize signs of impairment and conduct sobriety tests on the water. Penalties for BUI include fines, loss of boating privileges, and possible imprisonment.
The PFBC recommends that boaters avoid alcohol altogether, or at minimum, choose a designated operator who will not consume any alcohol during the duration of the boating trip.
In 2025, the PFBC arrested 27 individuals for BUI, including 9 arrests made during the Operation Dry Water campaign.  Among those arrested was a boat operator with a blood alcohol content of .198%, which is approximately two-and-a-half times the legal limit. Boaters who drive to and from their boating location are also reminded to obey motor vehicle regulations pertaining to alcohol use.
