Summer is upon us and boaters are beginning to enjoy the season. Maine Marine Patrol Officers, Game Wardens and the U.S. Coast Guard know that with the increase in water activity comes safety violations, increased boating accidents, boating under the influence and, unfortunately, the potential for boating fatalities.

In order to remind boaters of important safety precautions, the Maine Marine Patrol will join forces with the Maine Wardens Service and the Coast Guard to participate in Operation Dry Water, today through Sunday.

This annual campaign focuses on enforcing Boating Under the Influence laws and educating boaters about the risks of operating a boat under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The Marine Patrol has been a longtime supporter and participant of this annual effort, initiated by the National Association of State Boating Law Enforcement Administrators.

Last year’s Operation Dry Water campaign documented 4,519 violations and 337 arrests nationwide. This year the Marine Patrol, Coast Guard and Wardens Service will send out several details along the coast of Maine, from Kittery to Eastport.

The Marine Patrol would like to remind boaters that substance abuse leads to impairment and dramatically increases your chances of making a mistake. It does not matter whether the impairment is caused by alcohol, prescription drugs, illegal narcotics or severe lack of sleep. Impairment, regardless of its cause, acts to disrupt judgment, balance, vision and reaction time.

These factors are all relevant when you are exposed to the elements of tide, current, wind, sun and other boaters. In addition, drugs and alcohol play a role in increasing fatigue and can act to increase the effects of cold water immersion on the body. Here are some statistics that show that alcohol and vessel operation simply do not mix:

Alcohol is the leading contributing factor in recreational boating fatalities in the United States.

Nationally, 43 percent of accidents involving drugs and/or alcohol resulted in a fatality, and 81 percent involved injuries.

By far, June, July, August and September are the months that result in increased boating accidents and fatalities here in Maine and nationally.

Nationally, 56 percent of recreational boating accidents take place on weekends.

Eighty percent of fatal accidents occur on vessels less than 21 feet in length.

In 2011, the fatality rate increased by nearly 15 percent nationwide.

Remember, Maine has a strict .08 blood alcohol limit for vessel operators — and you are responsible if your actions place you or others at risk. Impaired boaters can expect penalties and consequences to be severe, including fines and jail time.

As boating season approaches, the Maine Marine Patrol, local harbormasters, local police departments on the coast, and the Coast Guard will increase water patrols focused not only on routine safety inspections, but also on events and activities that tend to draw large groups of recreational boating traffic.

As a reminder, we are not there to ruin your day on the water, but rather to help ensure that everyone has a safe and enjoyable experience.

Here are some more safe boating tips:

— Always check for proper safety equipment to ensure it is present, in working condition and updated before leaving land.

— Tell a family member or a friend what your boating plans are and when you will return. This is especially important if you are boating alone.

— Check the weather before you go and err on the side of caution. Be prepared for unpredictable changes.

— Make sure you have reliable communications with you and check in periodically to let others know where you are. A mobile phone or marine radio can decrease the time it takes for rescuers to accurately respond.

— Carry a chart and make sure that you know where you are at all times.

— Do not consume alcohol, especially if you are the vessel’s operator.

— Remember that all children 10 years of age and younger must wear a life jacket. They should be child-size jackets and need to be buckled or zipped securely in order to perform adequately. Keep in mind that regardless of age, it is always safer for children to wear a personal floatation device.

— Do not allow children to sit on the bow or sides of a vessel while under way. A slip from striking an object, a speed change or contact with a wake could put the child overboard with no opportunity for the operator to respond.

— Observe your wake when you are under way in a boat and watch for the wake caused by other boaters. You are responsible for the wake your vessel is causing and the impact it can have on other boaters, docks, etc.

— Do not take unnecessary risks. Know what your level of boating experience is and do not attempt to exceed it.

— As the operator, you are responsible for all others on the boat. Don’t allow one of your passengers to create an unsafe situation on the water.

Your failure to act responsibly can permanently affect your life or the life of others.

For more information on safe boating practices, visit

— www.safeboatingcampaign.com

— ww.discoverboating.com

— www.midcoastcasa.org

JON CORNISH is a Maine Marine Patrol lieutenant who covers the southern area of the state. He resides in Topsham with his wife and two daughters.