Montoursville, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC), the Highway Safety Network, Geisinger Medical Center, the PA DUI Association, and the Lycoming County DUI Task Force today held a media event at Susquehanna State Park to promote safe driving and boating during a “Fourth of July Impaired Driving Campaign” which runs through July 6, 2025.
The event took place in advance of a heightened “Operation Dry Water” enforcement weekend. Operation Dry Water is a year-round boating under the influence (BUI) awareness and enforcement campaign. Its mission is to reduce the number of alcohol- and drug-related crashes and fatalities on the water.
Event participants discussed planned roadway and waterway DUI/BUI patrols and demonstrated waterway sobriety checks. American flags representing the 114 impaired driving crashes resulting in seven fatalities in Lycoming County during 2024 were on display.
BUI laws pertain to all vessels, from canoes, kayaks, and rowboats to the largest ships.
Under Pennsylvania law, boat operators can be arrested for BUI while operating any watercraft if they are incapable of safe operation regardless of any blood alcohol concentration (BAC).
“Alcohol use can impair a person’s judgement, balance, vision, and reaction time. Additionally, the sun, wind, noise, and motion of the boat can intensify the effects of alcohol, drugs, and even medications,” said Waterways Conservation Officer C. Hunter Shoemaker.
Pennsylvania is a boating destination state; boaters drive to and from their places of boating. When boat operators consume alcoholic beverages or take controlled substances while boating and then get into a motor vehicle to drive home, a BUI becomes a DUI.
Crashes during holiday periods often increase due to the volume of traffic on the roadway. PennDOT data shows there were 279 crashes resulting in four fatalities over the Fourth of July holiday last year. Sixty of those crashes were drug or alcohol-related, resulting in one fatality.
“When people chose to operate a boat or vehicle while impaired, they are endangering not only themselves, but the many other boaters and motorists around them. BUI and DUI crashes are 100 percent preventable,” said Regional DUI Program Administrator Shawn Noonan with the PA DUI Association.
PennDOT offers these safety tips for the Fourth of July holiday weekend:
- Remember it is never okay to drive impaired. Even if you’ve had only one alcoholic beverage, designate a sober driver or plan to use public transportation or a ride sharing service to get home safely.
- If hosting a party, offer plenty of food and non-alcoholic drinks. Take the keys away from anyone impaired and assist guests in getting home safely.
- If you are planning on being the designated driver, refrain from drinking any alcohol—it’s that simple. People are relying on you.
To learn more about impaired driving and traffic safety, visit www.PennDOT.pa.gov/safety.
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MEDIA CONTACT: Kim Smith, kiasmit@pa.gov or 570-368-4344
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