Coeur d’Alene, ID – Over this last weekend the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office conducted some emphasis patrols on the Spokane River. During this last weekend there were a minimum of two teams dedicated to the river, and on Saturday three teams assigned to the Spokane River. Their focus was speed violations, wake zone violations, noise and other unsafe boating activity.
As a result of these patrols there were 79 boat inspections completed. We issued 38 citations for violations ranging from Wake Zone Violations, Speed, Overloading, No Lifejackets, Negligent Operations, Boating in a restricted area and No Navigation lights. There was also one arrest for Boating Under the Influence. There were no boat accidents reported on the Spokane River this emphasis weekend.
The Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office will be conducting the same emphasis patrols on the Spokane River again this upcoming weekend starting on Friday. If anyone has any questions about boating laws, regulations or would like to sign up for a free boating safety class please contact the Recreation Safety Section at 208-446-1362.
Sheriff Ben Wolfinger
By: Lt. Ryan Higgins