Officers will be patrolling the water throughout Florida to prevent accidents by cracking down on drinking and boating.
"If we catch you drinking and boating, you’re going to end up going to jail," said Lenny Salberg, a Florida Fish and Wildlife Officer.
Florida Fish and Wildlife is teaming up with local law enforcement agencies throughout Florida and they are all monitoring the water this weekend.
They will be pulling people over, cracking down on drinking and boating because they see more alcohol and drug related boating accidents and deaths during the summer.
FWC statistics shows that last summer, July, was the deadliest month with 17 deaths. They hope this year they will be able to educate more people, discouraging them from drinking and driving their boats.
When they pull you over they are checking to see if you have proper safety equipment on board, primarily enough life jackets for everyone on board.
While checking for license and registration as well as other safety equipment, they will also conduct a preliminary sobriety check on the boat captains.
It is legal to have an open container on board, but the captain has to be sober otherwise they could go to jail.
"It's the same law, whether you’re on land or driving a vehicle. It's the same arrest," Officer Salberg said.
If you are boating under the influence you will have to pay a fine of up to $1,000, you could lose your boating license, and even face jail time.
Florida Fish and Wildlife is working with other law enforcement this weekend, to make sure they are checking as many boats as possible so everyone is safe and knowledgeable as we head closer to the Fourth of July Weekend.