Stay Safe Along American River This 4th

The  is just around the corner and everyone will be looking to enjoy themselves. At the same time, river safety is a primary concern and authoritative presence will be beefed up.

A major holiday weekend with triple-digit temperatures predicted, authorities will be out in full force to ensure the safety of those partying along the cold, fast-moving this weekend. The California Department of Boating Waterways reports that "more boaters have died in swift water river accidents in the first six months of 2011 than any other comparable period on record." Sacramento County officials are on alert.

"The waterways will be packed with people," Sacramento County Sheriff's spokesman Dep. Jason Ramos said.

Life jackets are necessary for people on boats, no matter what your swim level.

"If you're out on a vessel at the water, you have to have at minimum, the number of life jackets that you have passengers on board, at least one for everybody on board," Ramos said.

Alcohol is permanently banned at the bluffs located near , the El Manto river access point, Sarah Court river access, the Paradise Beach recreation area, and certain locations within Discovery Park. 

Booze is also temporarily banned along the shoreline and the American River between Watt and Hazel avenues during the Memorial Day,  and Labor Day weekends. Glass beverages are banned year-round along the parkway.

If you're caught with alcohol along the parkway, officials will certainly enforce the rules, Ramos said.

"In general, if we see people drinking, we'll tell them to throw away their alcohol,” Ramos said. "We don’t want to ruin people's days and disrupt them, we just don’t want anyone to die, is basically what it comes down to."

During the Fourth of July weekend, it's pretty common for things to get out of hand when there's alcohol and heat involved.

"If push comes to shove and we come in contact with people on the waterway with alcohol, the alcohol could be confiscated and people could be cited. You're basically talking about infractions and citations."

Ramos also said that arrests could be made if further resistance continues with disobeying rules.

"We don't also want to, in general, because that’s not the goal and that’s not the ideal scenario, but if we have to do it, then we'll do it," Ramos said.