Oklahoma Lake Patrol Cracking Down On Intoxicated Boaters

Oklahoma Highway Patrol Troopers are on the water in a special statewide operation to catch boaters who drink and drive.

Keystone Lake is just one of the lakes where troopers are doing the targeted enforcement this week. They want boaters to know they're out looking for anyone who's driving drunk.

"We don't want people on the highway operating under the influence. We don't want people operating the vessel out on the lake under the influence," lake patrol trooper Ben Chapman said.

Troopers Ben Chapman and Joe Couch are out patrolling on the waters of Keystone.

"If we can get people in the mindset that, 'Hey let's get out here, let's have a good time, but let's be safe,'" Chapman said.

All week long and all across Oklahoma's lakes, the Marine Enforcement Division is participating in "Operation Dry Water."

"We're out here looking for the boaters who have had too much to drink," Chapman said.

And if troopers suspect that you've been drinking and driving the boat, you will be taken to jail.

Troopers said the legal blood-alcohol level for boating on the lake is the same as driving on the road -- .08.

Bob Potter is happy to see troopers on the lake.

"We don't want to be crashed into, we've got some pretty valuable assets on board," he said. "I want to take care of them. It's good to rub shoulders with them. I may break down out there and want them to come over and help me out."

Troopers will continue their patrols with Operation Dry Water into the Fourth of July Weekend.

"We just ask people to be responsible with their actions and be safe... that's why we're out here," Chapman said.