ANNAPOLIS, MD—The Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) charged nine impaired boaters and investigated nine reportable boating accidents during its annual “Operation Dry Water” campaign over the July 4 weekend. No boating fatalities were recorded during the holiday period, which ran from July 4 to July 6.
NRP officers made nine arrests for Operating While Under the Influence of Alcohol (OUI) during the heightened enforcement period. Boaters convicted of OUI face potential penalties of up to $1,000 in fines and one year of jail time. Over the past five years of NRP’s participation in Operation Dry Water, 33 impaired boaters have been removed from Maryland’s waterways.
The nine boating accidents recorded this July 4 weekend matched the total from the previous year. In 2023, 10 accidents were reported…