Thursday, June 26, 2014

[CHDIRAUX-L] SIXTH ANNUAL OPERATION DRY WATER THIS UPCOMING WEEKEND -012/14

To:         ALAUX
From:    CHDIRAUX
Subj:      SIXTH ANNUAL OPERATION DRY WATER THIS UPCOMING WEEKEND -012/14


1.  In concert with Objective #6 of the National Recreational Boating Safety Strategic Plan, which is to reduce the number of boating fatalities attributed to Boating Under the Influence, and funded by Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Safety Trust Fund non-profit grants to the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators, the Coast Guard's message authorizing Coast Guard participation and support for the sixth annual Operation Drywater message has been released, and follows below.

2.  Please promote Operation Drywater awareness and participation as much as possible.  And enjoy the water this weekend, knowing that our state law enforcement partners and involved Coast Guard units will be busy with this endeavor.    


R 251940Z JUN 14
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//CG-5P/CG-5R// TO ALCOAST BT UNCLAS //N16210// ALCOAST 282/14 COMDTNOTE 16210
SUBJ: OPERATION DRY WATER
A. U.S. Coast Guard Maritime Law Enforcement Manual (MLEM), COMDTINST M16247.1 (series)

1.  The purpose of this ALCOAST is to provide notice of this years Operation Dry Water (ODW) and encourage maximum participation from Coast Guard units consistent with Area and District Commanders direction.

2. Alcohol use continues to be a leading cause in recreational boating related accidents, injuries and deaths. Alcohol was a contributing factor in sixteen percent of all recreational boating deaths in 2013. ODW directly supports a variety of objectives identified in the Strategic Plan of the National Recreational Boating Safety Program that is focused on reducing deaths and injuries nationally.

3. ODW will be conducted the weekend of 27-29 June. This is the sixth year for this national multi-agency boating under the influence (BUI) education, detection and enforcement event. The national goal is to significantly reduce the number of alcohol-related accidents, injuries, and deaths among recreational boaters.

4. This year, the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA), in partnership with COMDT (CG-BSX-2), and many other boating safety partners, will once again coordinate this nationwide event. Marine law enforcement agencies throughout the 56 states and territories will intensify BUI awareness and enforcement through increased patrols and established sobriety checkpoints.

5. Coast Guard units are encouraged to partner with state boating law administrators and local law enforcement agencies to make this years ODW a success. Operations permitting, unit Commanding Officers and Officers in Charge are strongly encouraged to support and participate in the sixth national BUI enforcement effort and awareness event. Units shall conduct BUI enforcement in conjunction with normal law enforcement operations. Thus, USCG units shall not establish blockades or other checkpoints designed specifically to detect intoxicated operators. However, this prohibition does not preclude Coast Guard units from assisting and participating alongside our law enforcement partners if they establish blockades or checkpoints. Units shall review ref (a) to ensure compliance with current Coast Guard policy.

6. NASBLA and COMDT (CG-BSX-2) have created a special ODW website, which has information on this initiative including national media press releases, public service announcements, posters, and brochures that can be used to promote this nationwide effort. The web address is http://operationdrywater.org.

7. To ensure that participation by Coast Guard field units is accurately captured, units planning on participating in this years event must register at http://operationdrywater.org. At the conclusion of the ODW event, participating units shall fill out the online report form on the ODW website http://www.operationdrywater.org/index.php/odw/le(underscore)resources.

8. In 2013, all 50 states and six territories participated in the fifth annual ODW event. Over 6,000 marine law enforcement officers representing over 500 law enforcement agencies nationwide, which included 119 Coast Guard operational units, made contact with 144,044 boaters on 58,171 recreational vessels. Federal, state, and local marine law enforcement officers made 290 arrests for BUI. Additionally, there were 4,942 citations and 12,217 warnings for other recreational boating related safety violations during the three-day weekend.

9. Media coverage for ODW was once again extensive during the entire event. The combined national and state agency media outreach efforts resulted in strong media coverage for the 2013 ODW event. As a result of the strong outreach efforts, ODW was highlighted in 782 television news stories, 1,056 online mentions, including social media sites,
135 print articles and 139 wire stories and hyperlink mentions.

10. Units having additional questions or wishing to participate in this operation are encouraged to contact their respective District Recreational Boating Safety Specialist for guidance in coordinating efforts in this unique pulse op.

11. COMDT (CG-BSX-2) POC: Joseph Carro (202)372-1068, or joseph.j.carro(AT)uscg.mil.

12. RDML Paul Thomas, Assistant Commandant for Prevention Policy and RDML Peter Brown, Assistant Commandant for Response Policy, send.
13. Internet release authorized.
BT

3. The purpose of this list is to keep Auxiliarists as well as all other interested parties abreast of current developments, policies, manuals, etc. All information contained herein and linked is OFFICIAL policy and information.

4. Internet Release and Distribution is Authorized.

5. CG-BSX-1 sends
Forwarded by:
DCAPT David G. Porter
Sector NY - South, 1SR