With one of the busiest travel weekends of the year approaching, law enforcement and public safety officials gathered Tuesday at Blue Marsh Lake to remind residents that impaired driving and boating are entirely preventable and that enforcement efforts will be stepped up throughout the Independence Day holiday.
Representatives from PennDOT, the Highway Safety Network, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, Blue Marsh Lake, and local law enforcement held the news conference at the Dry Brooks Boat Launch in Bern Township to highlight the dangers of operating vehicles and watercraft while impaired by alcohol or drugs.
Bern Township Police Chief Brett Forry said the message ahead of the holiday is straightforward.
“The Fourth of July holiday is a time of celebration, family gathering, cookouts, and fireworks. It is also one of the busiest travel periods of the year. Our message is simple: drive sober, drive drug-free, arrive alive,” Forry said.
Officials stressed that impairment extends beyond alcohol and includes illegal drugs, prescription medications and over-the-counter medications that can affect judgment and reaction time.
“We emphasize impaired driving, not just drunk driving, because impairment can result from alcohol, illegal drugs, prescription medications, or over-the-counter medications,” Forry said. “Many people don’t realize that medications can impair judgment, reaction time, and driving ability. Always read the warning labels, and never mix alcohol with your medications.”
According to PennDOT, Pennsylvania recorded 8,658 crashes involving impaired drivers in 2025. While alcohol-related crashes have declined over the past decade, officials said impaired driving continues to cause preventable injuries and deaths.
To reduce those risks, Forry encouraged anyone celebrating to make transportation plans before consuming alcohol or other impairing substances.
“If you’re celebrating, plan ahead: designate a sober driver, use rideshare services, or call a taxi, or simply stay where you’re at,” he said. “Bern Township Police and our law enforcement partners will be conducting increased enforcement efforts throughout the holiday period to keep everyone safe on the roadway.”
On the water, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission announced it will participate in Operation Dry Water, a nationwide campaign running July 3 through July 5 that targets boating under the influence.
Sergeant Travis Miller said Waterways Conservation Officers will conduct increased patrols on waterways across Pennsylvania during the campaign.
Under Pennsylvania law, boat operators with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08% or higher can be charged with boating under the influence, and officers are trained to recognize signs of impairment and conduct sobriety testing on the water.
In 2025, the Fish and Boat Commission arrested 27 individuals for boating under the influence, including nine during last year’s Operation Dry Water campaign. Officials noted the highest blood alcohol concentration recorded among those arrests was 0.198%—roughly two-and-a-half times the legal limit.
Boaters were also reminded that they must obey motor vehicle laws while traveling to and from launches.
“We want you to have a good time on the water, but we also want you to be safe,” Miller said.
Officials also emphasized the importance of wearing life jackets and boating education.
According to the Fish and Boat Commission, 87% of people who drowned in recreational boating incidents were not wearing life jackets, while 69% of boating fatalities involved vessels operated by individuals who had not received formal boating safety education.
Jonah Eckert, chief park ranger at Blue Marsh Lake, reminded visitors that alcohol is prohibited throughout the recreation area.
“In the last five years at U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recreation areas, public drowning fatalities, in 21% of those, alcohol was involved,” Eckert said. “I want people to remember, any Philadelphia District Corps of Engineers lake or river project, alcohol is prohibited. That includes Blue Marsh Lake.”
With hot weather expected to draw large crowds over the holiday weekend, Eckert said visitors should plan to arrive early, noting that Blue Marsh often reaches capacity by 10 a.m. The Dry Brooks Day Use Area opens at 8 a.m.
He also encouraged swimmers to use designated swimming areas, swim with a buddy, and consider wearing a life jacket. Three life jacket loaner stations are available throughout the park, allowing visitors to borrow life jackets free of charge for the day.
Forry said the most important takeaway is that impaired driving and boating incidents are avoidable.
“One of the most important things about impaired driving or impaired boating is all the deaths, injuries, property damage, and even arrests is 100% preventable,” he said. “It’s the operator of the vehicle or the watercraft that makes the poor choice of driving while impaired. It’s 100% preventable.”