Officials work to keep drunk boaters off the water ahead of Aquapalooza

WARWICK, RI (WLNE) — Law enforcement officials are warning the public of the dangers of drunk boating ahead of this weekend’s Aquapalooza off of Prudence Island

The event has a reputation for drunk boating.

Warwick Police are joining forces with the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, the United States Coast Guard, and Mothers Against Drunk Driving Rhode Island to keep drunk boaters off the water this summer.

“During the summer season we see the largest amount of water crafts on the water and a regular occurrence of unsafe boating, boating under the influence,” Warwick Police Capt. Robert Hart said.

During a press conference Wednesday Hart explained the dangers of boating under the influence.

“Alcohol is the leading contributing factor in fatal boating accidents nationwide, alcohol can impair a boater’s judgment, vision, and reaction time,” he said.

Hart said his entire team is now trained in BUI enforcement, which is something DEM Sgt. Harold Guise said will come in handy this weekend.

“Anytime you put that many boaters together, we do tend to have some boating accidents, injuries, things like that, we try to go out with other departments and encourage safe boating,” Guise said.

He added said extra patrols will be on the water for Aquapalooza.

“I think the big thing with Aquapalooza is we were together with all the departments and really try to have a presence out there, we try to work with community partners and make sure people know we have a presence out there,” Guise said.

Jennifer O’Neil, a victim advocate for MADD R.I., said drunk boating is just a dangerous as drunk driving.

O’Neil advises Rhode Islanders to always have a plan before heading out on the water.

“There have been tragedies in the past due to BUI, and it’s unfortunate and it doesn’t need to happen if people make the proper plan,” she said.

According to officials, one out of three recreational boating accidents involve alcohol.