Bonney Lake police will be on high alert and on the lookout for intoxicated boaters in two weeks.
The Bonney Lake Police Department’s Marine Services Unit will patrol Lake Tapps June 28-30, paying special attention to signs that vessel pilots may be bringing the party behind the wheel.
The emphasis is part of national campaign “Operation Dry Water,” organized by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators. The campaign began in 2009 with the purpose of reducing boating fatalities involving alcohol. A 2012 U.S. Coast Guard study found that while alcohol only contributed to 8 percent of boating accidents overall, it contributed to 17 percent — nearly a fifth — of boating fatalities.
The environmental stressors of piloting a watercraft — including exposure to sun, wind, noise, vibration and motion — can intensify the effects of intoxicants, according to an Operation Dry Water fact sheet. Additionally, alcohol’s effect of increasing blood flow to the extremities makes drinkers more susceptible to hypothermia and cold water shock.
“We on Lake Tapps have definitely seen accidents and deaths that alcohol can be attributed to,” Bonney Lake Officer Daron Wolschleger said.
Boating under the influence can be a tricky area for law enforcement.
In terms of public education, Washington state law is clear that boat operators must remain within the legal limit of .08 blood alcohol content. However, open containers of alcohol are technically allowed: the law only expressly prohibits them on vehicles if they’re traveling on roadways. Combine that concession with a crowded boat on a recreational lake during a beautiful summer day, and the result can be a mistaken perception of lax enforcement.
In terms of enforcement, an Operation Drywater member agency out of Virginia noted that probable cause can be hard to spot, because boats tend to travel slower than cars and on a right-of-way with fewer marked travel restrictions. That’s why, during the emphasis period, police carefully examine all boating violations for a possible link to alcohol.
“So if we see a boat that doesn’t have its ski flag up while its towing skiers, or we see an 8-year-old without a child life jacket, those aren’t the most serious violations by themselves,” Wolschleger said. “Or we may just be conducting a safety inspection. But while we’re checking on that, we will look for signs of impairment from the operator.”
Police boats will pull up close to the side of vessels and, as they make contact with the operator, will pay close attention for signs of intoxication such as glassy eyes or an apparent smell of alcohol. Signs of possible intoxication will lead to field sobriety tests and a portable breath test. If the operator is found to be intoxicated, he will be brought under arrest for further processing at the police department. Police will make an effort to release the boat to a sober passenger or store it ashore in Allan Yorke Park, Wolschleger said, but it could potentially be impounded.
A boating under the influence conviction can currently result in 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine. Beginning July 28, the possible maximum penalty will increase to 364 days in jail and $5,000 in fines.
“What we want to stress is that we’re all about safety,” Wolschleger said. “We’re about enforcing the laws in place and keeping people safe on the lake and elsewhere.”
In 2012, law enforcement agencies participating in Operation Dry Water have made 337 BUI arrests, issued 4,819 citations, and 9,695 warnings for safety violations. All reported numbers were higher than those recorded in the previous year.
