The U.S. Coast Guard, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, the state police, and the Ridley Township Police Department all said the same thing: boating under the influence is just as bad as driving under the influence.
Representatives from each of those entities, along with a PennDOT spokesperson, held a joint boat safety discussion at the Ridley Township Marina to drive home that point leading up to the July 4 holiday weekend. A Coast Guard crew held a mock boating stop, similar to a police traffic stop, and the Boat Commission conducted its version of an aquatic field sobriety test during the June 27 event.
Lt. Cmdr. Matthew Zangle, the chief of enforcement at Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay headquartered in Philadelphia, said his crews are teaming up this weekend with the other law enforcement agencies in executing Operation Dry Water.
“There will be increased law enforcement presence on the water to deter and take actions against boating under the influence,” he said. “Every maritime operator understands that situations on the water can go from bad to severely worse very quickly…Operating in a maritime environment holds a certain level of risk, and introducing alcohol in that situation only raises that risk.”
Alcohol, he said continues to be the leading factor in recreational boating deaths. In 2021, alcohol was responsible for 60 percent of boating deaths.
“We encourage all mariners to be proactive in their boating safety practices.”
Those factors include having a life jacket for each person on board the boat and children 12 and younger should always wear life jackets while on the water. Ensure there are working fire extinguishers on board the vessels, along with throwable floatation and sound-producing devices.
Sgt. Ron Evancho, of the Boat Commission’s Law Enforcement Division, echoed much of what Zangle said, stressing safe boating practices including wearing life jackets and avoiding alcohol. If people will be drinking on board, he said, make sure there’s a designated person at the helm who is not drinking alcohol.
Evancho added an obvious, but often overlooked practice, “Check the weather forecast” before heading out on the boat. “And never boat under the influence of drugs or alcohol,” he repeated.
Being alcohol-free while driving was also stressed. State Tpr. Jessica Tobin, the community affairs officer from Troop K media barracks said, “During the July Fourth holiday, we’re showing zero tolerance to drunk driving. It is illegal; however, people still drive intoxicated. We know how to identify signs of impairment. Ruining your life and someone else's is preventable. Make the right choice.”
She stressed the zero-tolerance approach to impaired driving and boating, whether that impairment is due to alcohol, prescription, or illegal drugs. But Tobin also stressed defensive driving and being aware of other drivers.
“If you see any unsafe activity, call 911…Drive like your life depends on it because it does.”
About Rich Schwartzman
Rich Schwartzman has been reporting on events in the greater Chadds Ford area since September 2001 when he became the founding editor of The Chadds Ford Post. In April 2009 he became managing editor of ChaddsFordLive. He is also an award-winning photographer.
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