Connecticut law enforcement will be participating in a nationwide crackdown this weekend on people who operate boats under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Boaters can expect to see more officers on the water and at recreational boating checkpoints through Sunday.
Alcohol was a factor in 26 of the 61 boating-related fatalities in Connecticut over the past decade.
In Connecticut, it's illegal to operate a vessel with a blood alcohol concentration level of .08 percent or higher. That's the same level for driving a vehicle.
Col. Kyle Overturf, commander of the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection's police agency, says officers want to emphasize that drinking and boating is as dangerous as drinking and driving.
