Walla Walla County Sheriff’s Office deputies Brian Bush and Jeff Jackson perform a boat inspection on July 21, 2018, at Fishhook Park on the Snake River.

Walla Walla County Sheriff’s Office deputies Brian Bush and Jeff Jackson perform a boat inspection on July 21, 2018, at Fishhook Park on the Snake River.

Boating under the influence is illegal in Washington, and local law enforcement is joining a national effort to crack down on the reckless behavior during the Fourth of July holiday weekend.

Operation Dry Water is a nationally coordinated effort. Locally, boaters can expect to see additional patrols across Walla Walla County and the Tri-Cities, according to a release from the Walla Walla County Sheriff’s Office.

According to the release, it is illegal to use any substance that impairs a person’s ability to operate any boat, including kayaks, canoes, stand-up paddle boards, rowboats and inflatable fishing rafts.

The maximum penalty for a BUI — boating under the influence — is 364 days in jail and a $5,000 fine.

Jeremy Burnham can be reached at jeremyburnham@wwub.com or 509-526-8321.

Jeremy covers courts and public safety for the Union-Bulletin. He graduated from Eastern Washington University in 2019 with a degree in journalism.

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