SALT LAKE CITY – With thousands of Utahns expected to hit the water and off-road trails this Independence Day holiday weekend, state officials are warning that a moment of impaired judgment could turn deadly.
The Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation and the Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division are ramping up patrols for the Fourth of July weekend as part of the national “Operation Dry Water” campaign. Their message: Boating or riding off-highway vehicles (OHVs) while impaired is not only illegal, it’s one of the top causes of recreational fatalities in Utah.
“Operating a boat or OHV while impaired is not only illegal, it’s incredibly dangerous and is a preventable tragedy waiting to happen,” said Ty Hunter, boating program manager for the Division of Outdoor Recreation. “Every year, we see preventable deaths and injuries caused by impaired operators on our waterways and trails.”
Throughout the holiday weekend, recreation rangers will be conducting educational outreach and stepped-up enforcement, reminding the public that Utah law prohibits operating any motorized vehicle or vessel with a blood alcohol content of 0.05% or higher. Driving under the influence of drugs is equally prohibited.
“Recreate responsibly and prioritize safety,” Hunter said. “A single moment of impaired judgment can have lasting consequences.”
The campaign highlights the importance of sober recreation, encouraging boaters and OHV users to wear proper safety gear—life jackets on the water, helmets on the trails—and to avoid alcohol and drugs while operating any recreational vehicle.
Utah’s Operation Dry Water efforts are part of a broader year-round push to reduce impaired recreation incidents statewide.
More information is available at recreation.utah.gov or operationdrywater.org.