Crime & Safety

Seafair Weekend Will Bring Extra BUI Patrols to Lake Washington

The Washington State Patrol and partnering agencies will be looking for people boating under the influence Aug. 2-4.

Extra police patrols will be looking for impaired boat drivers on Lake Washington this weekend as part of an annual Seafair emphasis program.

Police from city, county, state and federal agencies will participate in the patrols, which will be staged at Proctor Landing on Mercer Island. Temporary detention facilities and prisoner support vehicles will be in use to process those who are suspected of boating under the influence (BUI).

series of new state BUI laws went into effect on Sunday, July 28. The crime is now a gross misdemeanor, punishable by up to a $5,000 fine and/or 364 days in jail. Officers with probable cause can now also require boat drivers take a breathalyzer to determine impairment.

Previous BUI emphasis patrols on Seafair weekend netted 61 arrests in 2012 and 70 in 2011.


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