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Seventy-three citations were issued during an on-the-water operating under the influence (OUI) checkpoint at Lake Powell July 24, but the most citations were issued for insufficient personal flotation devices (PFD’s), said Arizona Game and Fish Department officers.
"Even on a good day, Lake Powell typically has choppy water. There are also large wakes put out by houseboats and tour boats that can toss small boats around. In addition, high winds can occur just about any time and create large waves," PFD’s are essential for safety," said Steve Andrews, Flagstaff regional law enforcement program manager.
Andrews added that 25 boat operators were cited for not having a Type 4 (throwable) flotation device on board. "At Powell, adult boat passengers quite often don’t wear their PFD’s while underway. Should they fall or be thrown out of the boat, the chop on the water would make it difficult for them to keep their heads out of water. That chop also makes it difficult for other boats to see someone in the water. A throwable PFD is not only necessary for safety, the law requires there be one on board," Andrews said.
The Saturday afternoon boater checkpoint at the Wahweap Marina was conducted by Game and Fish with assistance of law enforcement officers from the National Park Service, Department of Public Safety, and Coconino County Sheriff’s Department.
At the Wahweap Marina, once a boat came off the main body of the lake and entered the "No Wake" zone, it was met by either a patrol boat or a patrol personal watercraft and escorted to a portion of the boat slips set aside for the enforcement operation. A houseboat for the operation was provided by the Lake Powell concessionaire, Aramark.
Once a boat reached one of the four boat slips set aside for the operation, officers conducted a safety inspection of the boats. Most boats were processed in less than four minutes, unless a violation was found. There were 177 watercraft checked, and most averaged around four people on board. There were 669 people processed through the checkpoint.
If boat operators were suspected of being impaired by alcohol or drugs, they were given a field sobriety test. Officers conducted eight field sobriety tests. Although no OUI arrests were made. None of the eight tested a .10 or higher on the Breathlizer. However, the eight tested did register .05 to .08, which meant they could not operate a watercraft safely.
Officers also issued seven citations for no fire extinguishers, five citations for no registration and three citations for "other" infractions.
The law enforcement check station at Powell was the fifth one of its kind conducted this year by Game and Fish at various lakes. At least one more checkpoint is scheduled this year, but others are always possible.
OUI checkpoints were conducted this year at the following locations: Colorado River, Bullhead City, May 15; Lake Havasu, June 12; Lake Mead (Cottonwood area) June 19; and Bullhead City June 26. In those checkpoints, a total of 690 contacts were made, and 161 citations were issued for various violations, including 19 citations for operation under the influence and14 OUI arrests. Fifty-six boat operators were cited for not having sufficient PFD’s, 72 for no fire extinguisher and 18 in various other categories, plus 99 warnings.
At most of the checkpoints, boaters were queried on whether they had consumed some alcohol during the day. Fifty-percent of the boaters at the Havasu checkpoint said they had consumed alcohol, 27 percent at Lake Mead, and 19 percent at Bullhead City (June 26).
Andrews said the combination of wind, sun, waves and engine vibration is enough to impair most boaters during a day on the water. When alcohol is mixed into the equation, he said, it can prove deadly.
Uploaded: 7/29/1999
Uploaded: 7/29/1999