NC Wildlife Police

June 18. Amidst news in the Charlotte Observer that Lake Norman is the deadliest lake in North Carolina, NC Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) will step up patrols and enforcement during the July 4 holiday.

Operation Dry Water will be observed July 4-6. It was developed through the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators. (July 4 falls on Thursday this year.)

The focus of the campaign is to increase enforcement and awareness around boating while impaired. Wildlife officers will be increasing water patrols, according to NCWRC.

It is unlawful to operate a recreational vessel with an alcohol concentration of .08 or higher, or while being appreciably impaired by alcohol, drugs or other impairing substances. During last year’s campaign, NCWRC wildlife law enforcement officers deployed 159 officers and removed 40 people from the water who were boating while impaired.