WA, OR law enforcement will be out looking for boaters driving under the influence

In Washington state, five people died last year in alcohol-involved crashes on the water.

Mark Boyer with the Franklin County Sheriff Office says starting Friday until Sunday, patrols will be out looking for boaters driving under the influence.

"I don't think it is as big of a problem as it used to be, I think it still definitely something that needs to be addressed and even without 'Operation Dry Water' it is something we are actively looking for," says Boyer.

Franklin, Benton, Walla Walla, Yakima and Grant Counties will be taking part in Operation Dry Water.

Oregon State Patrol will also be out and looking for boaters under the influence.

Since the inception of the Operation Dry Water Campaign in 2009, law enforcement officers have removed 2,153 BUI operators from the nation’s waterways and made contact with over 729,000 boaters during the annual three-day weekend.