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Extra law enforcement patrolling the water this weekend

Several law enforcement agencies will be on Iowa and Illinois lakes and rivers, on the look out for drunk boaters from June 27, 2014 to June 29, 2014. It’...

Several law enforcement agencies will be on Iowa and Illinois lakes and rivers, on the look out for drunk boaters from June 27, 2014 to June 29, 2014.

It's part of a nationwide campaign called Operation Dry Water.  State, federal, and local law enforcement agencies will patrol the water to enforce boating while intoxicated laws, while educating boaters about the dangers of boating while driving under the influence.

"We're going to go out and we're going to check 100% or make 100% stops on all the boats out there that are actively boating and we're going to do safety checks on them," said Jeff Harrison, an Iowa DNR Conservation Officer.

Officers will be looking for items like life jackets and fire extinguishers.

"At which time if we detect any alcohol use, we're going to run through the field sobriety test," said Harrison.

During Operation Dry Water in 2013, the Iowa DNR handed out 90 tickets or warnings, reaching 426 boats and 1,613 boaters.

In 2013, more than 66% of Iowa's boating deaths involved alcohol.

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