Lake Tapps Drunk Boating Emphasis This Weekend

BONNEY LAKE, WA - Bonney Lake police, Pierce County deputies, and the state Parks and Recreation Commission will be out this weekend enforcing drunk boating laws on Lake Tapps.

The emphasis, called "operation dry water," begins on Friday and rolls through July 1.

And don't think this is just for folks with fancy boats. The state's boating-under-the-influence (BUI) law applies to all vessels, including canoes and kayaks. The BUI law carries the same standard as DUI - you're under the influence if your blood-alcohol is .08 or higher. The influence of marijuana and illegal drugs are also counted under the law.

The penalties are just as steep as getting a DUI: if you refuse a breathalyzer, you get a $2,050 civil infraction. If found guilty of BUI, it's either a $5,000 fine or a year in jail - plus a gross misdemeanor on your record.

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