CLEAR LAKE – The Lake County Sheriff’s Office held its first-ever boating under the influence checkpoint on Saturday, an effort meant to raise the level of safety on the lake.

Between the hours of 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. deputies made 160 contacts, administered eight field sobriety tests, gave out two citations and made zero arrests.

Officials also reported issuing two citations issued for violations of other California Boating laws – one for not having sufficient personal flotation devices on board and another for allowing under-aged operation of a vessel.

The checkpoint was set up between Buckingham Point and Anderson Island – the most narrow part of the lake.

Boat Patrol Supervisor Sgt. Dennis Ostini spearheaded the project, which was the first of its kind ever implemented on Clear Lake.

Ostini and his staff heavily researched similar checkpoints, participating in and observing some executed on the Sacramento River as well as lakes in Sutter County.

Assisting the Lake County Sheriff’s Office were California Highway Patrol, Sutter County and Sacramento County Sheriff’s offices, the Department of Fish and Game and California State Parks officers.

Boaters came upon warning buoys from both sides informing them of the BUI checkpoint. At that time, if the boat turned around, it would not be pursued. They then came upon a second buoy and were approached by an officer on a personal watercraft and directed to one of five screening vessels.

Officers looked for evidence of alcohol consumption such as open containers – which are legal on a boat – and the watercraft operator’s speech.

If they suspected the operator to be under the influence of alcohol, he or she would be handed a life preserver and asked to board the screening vessel where the officer would perform a seated field sobriety test.

If there was further suspicion of BUI, the operator would be given the choice of taking a breathalyzer test or blood alcohol test back on shore.

Blood alcohol content for boating under the influence is the same as driving under the influence –  0.08.

Boaters appeared to cooperate respectfully with the sheriff’s office and the contacts that Lake County News observed went smoothly.

The emphasis of the day was on using the utmost precaution when boating, for everyone’s safety.

The BUI checkpoint was funded by a grant from the state that aims to educate boaters on boating safety and enforcement of boating laws, officials reported. The state accumulates funds for such grants and financial aid through money derived from boat registrations and property taxes placed on boats.

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