Area law enforcement agencies are reminding motorists and boaters about the dangers of operating a vehicle or watercraft while under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol as the July Fourth holiday weekend approached.

Many COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted, and that means more people may be out and about celebrating, but local officials said during a press conference at Beltzville State Park on Wednesday that law enforcement will be cracking down on impaired drivers.

“Each Fourth of July, families lose loved ones in crashes where alcohol and drugs are involved,” Carbon County District Attorney Michael Greek said. “Making the choice to drive drunk or boat drunk puts everyone in danger. Even one drink can be too many.”

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 38% of traffic fatalities over July 4 weekend in 2019 were the result of people driving while impaired.

“Carbon County, sadly, accounted for four of those,” Greek said. “This year alone, 46% of criminal cases filed in Carbon County have been DUIs. That is up from 29% over the last few years.”

Greek attributes some of that increase to things opening up after COVID-19 had many people staying at home over the past year. Nonetheless, the statistics speak for themselves. And it isn’t just alcohol use that has officials concerned.

“Of 289 DUIs in Carbon County this year,” Greek said, “over half involved drugs or controlled substances. “Folks have to remember that aspect of it, and if you are impaired by drugs, whether you obtained them legally or illegally, you can be stopped and charged.”

Around 40% of all boating accidents are related to alcohol use, and Scott Christman, waterways conservation officer for the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, said it remains the top contributing factor in boating accidents.

Christman also spoke about Operation Dry Water, a year-round boating under the influence awareness and enforcement campaign.

“It’s in effect all year long, but from July 2-4, we’ll be out with a heightened enforcement,” Christman said.

In Pennsylvania, it is illegal to operate any watercraft, powered or unpowered, while impaired. The blood alcohol limit for boat operators is 0.08%, and officers such as Christman are trained to recognize signs of impairment and conduct sobriety tests on the water.

“Penalties for BUI include fines, loss of boating privileges and imprisonment,” Christman said.

Last year across Pennsylvania, 11 individuals died in boating accidents. Alcohol or drugs was determined to be a contributing factor in at least three of the cases. So far this year, officers have arrested 13 individuals for boating under the influence. A total of 60 individuals were arrested for BUI in 2020.

At Beltzville State Park, alcohol is not permitted on the premises.

Chief Ranger Steve Anderson said he and his crew are trained to identify and intercede on impaired driving of any form.

“Most of our issues here can be traced back to alcohol consumption by our visitors,” Anderson said. “My rangers will be enforcing the law as it relates to impairment due to alcohol and drugs.”