CLEAR LAKE — Lake County Sheriff”s Marine Patrol conducted a Boating Under the Influence (BUI) checkpoint on Clear Lake Saturday. The enforcement activity resulted in one arrest for BUI.
Paul Waters, 44, of Middletown was booked on misdemeanor charges of boating under the influence and booked at Lake County Jail. He was later released on citation. “Members of the Marine Patrol Unit and officers assisting from other agencies received a great deal of positive feedback from boaters going through the checkpoint on Saturday,” Sheriff Captain James Bauman said. “The Sheriff”s Department considers the operation a great success in that only one arrest was necessary and we appreciate the assistance provided by the other participating agencies.”
The BUI checkpoint conducted Saturday was the second of its kind to be conducted by the Lake County Sheriffs in the past two years. It included the allied assistance of California State Parks, California Fish and Game and the Sacramento County Sheriff”s Department. Sgt. Dennis Ostini, Marine Patrol, said that allied services were provided through a trade agreement with the agencies. He said that Lake County Sheriff deputies participate in BUI operations in outside areas such as on the Sacramento River and Lake Oroville in return.
The BUI checkpoint was intended to reduce the number of alcohol-related accidents and injuries and to enforce other California boating laws on the waters of Clear Lake. Sgt. Ostini said that the operation was more about increasing awareness to the consequences and dangers of boating under the influence rather than making arrests.
Buoys were placed in an area off of Beakban Island and Leubow Point.
The forward white buoys indicated to boaters that they were entering the checkpoint. Prior to entering the blue buoy area that followed, boaters had the option of turning around and not participating in the checkpoint. Sgt. Ostini said in his experience very few boaters turn around.
Sgt. Ostini said that after the boats passed the second set of blue buoys, they were contacted.
Contact personnel were on personal watercraft, one of which Sgt. Ostini said was on loan from Disney Water Sports. After the boater entered the blue buoy area, one or two deputies on watercraft would make contact and direct the vessel to one of the patrol boat stations on the water.
Boaters were then stopped briefly and questioned. Sgt. Ostini said that if a deputy found signs of alcohol-use, intoxication or impairment, the boater operator was directed aboard the patrol vessel where a variety of condition-appropriate field sobriety tests (FSTs) were conducted. If the boater operator showed further signs of intoxication or failed the FSTs he/she was brought ashore to the command center stationed at Thompson Harbor at Redbud Park in Clearlake where a Breathalyzer was available.
According to Captain Bauman, 46 boaters were contacted and screened during the operation. He said that three operators were given FSTs and one arrest was made.
Contact South County reporter Denise Rockenstein at drockenstein@clearlakeobserver.com or call her directly at 994-6444, ext. 11.
