Wilson County Sheriff's Office participates in Operation Dry Water

Abbey Nutter, The Lebanon Democrat, Tenn.
·2 min read

Jul. 6—While residents were celebrating the Fourth of July on Thursday, the Wilson County Sheriff's Office was participating in the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency's Operation Dry Water.

"Especially during the summertime and holidays, we have an uptick (in incidents)," Wilson County Sheriff's Office Public Information Officer Scott Moore said. "With people being out on the lake and with the extreme heat, you're going to drink more. What you drink is the x-factor. Are we drinking water to stay hydrated or are we drinking more alcohol?"

Operation Dry Water is TWRA's year-round boating under the influence (BUI) and enforcement campaign begun in 2009 to raise awareness of the dangers associated with BUI. A TWRA press release stated that boaters would notice an increased law enforcement presence on the water during the holiday.

Moore said that there's a direct correlation between an increased consumption of alcohol and the number of incidents that the sheriff's office responds to.

"Ultimately, if you're out on the lake or at a party somewhere else, the chances of someone drinking and driving is going to be higher on holidays such as July 4," Moore said. "We want to make sure we do everything we can to prevent that from happening."

Just like with a car, operating a boat with a blood alcohol content of .08 or higher is illegal in the state of Tennessee.

"It's pretty consistent throughout the years," Moore said. "We have incidents that we deal with out on the road, just like we do out on the lake and I don't think any one year has been higher."

Moore said that the sheriff's office responded to approximately 15-20 calls over the course of the holiday, and that several of those incidents were boating-related.

"July 4 is a day to celebrate our independence, our freedoms and there's nothing wrong with going on the lake and barbecuing and things of that nature, but do so responsibly," Moore said. "Unfortunately, there's many people out there that can't do it responsibly and if you're out there putting other people's lives at risk, then there should be a level of accountability held."