STEARNS COUNTY - It's offically summer and the boating season is here.

With that comes the issue of alcohol. Operation Dry Water kicked off Friday and goes through Sunday. The national campaign urges you to not drink and run a boat. So if you and your family are going to the lake this weekend, expect to see extra patrols around.

Stearns County Chief Deputy Bruce Bechtold says if you're driving the boat while intoxicated there will be consequences.

"If you're over a .08: it's a crime, because you're operating a motor vehicle on the waterways."

The goal of the campaign is to reduce the number of boating while intoxicated (BWI) accidents and fatalities. In seven of 16 deadly boating crashes, alcohol plays a factor.

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