Eight people were arrested for boating while intoxicated on lakes, ponds and rivers and hundreds of others were issued summonses and warnings during a three-day campaign to curb the use of alcohol while boating, the Maine Warden Service said.

The effort was part of Operation Dry Water, a national campaign that started in 2009, the warden service said in a statement.

Maine game wardens reported very heavy boating traffic during the campaign, from June 29 to July 1, which involved 80 Maine game wardens who spent more than 1,200 hours enforcing recreational boating activity.

The wardens inspected nearly 2,500 watercraft with 5,400 operators and passengers.

The most common violations encountered by game wardens involved safety equipment, registration requirements, safe operation, and boating while intoxicated. More than 100 summonses to court and 328 warnings were issued to boaters.

Game wardens encountered about 50 non-boating-related violations, including two incidents of adults who provided a location for minors to consume alcohol.

The warden service said game wardens will continue to patrol the state’s 6,00 lakes, ponds and rivers all summer.


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