Crimetracker: Boat Citations
TRI-CITIES - KEPR has learned Benton County is stepping up enforcement on the water. It's not just lip service. KEPR pulled the numbers.
Action News shows you what kind of impact it's making on cutting down on accidents on the rivers.
On the Fourth of July in the Tri-Cities, the action isn't just in the sky, it's on the water.
And Benton County marine patrol will be out on the water this holiday weekend making sure people are following the rules.
So I called up the state, they track the number of tickets given out on the water. KEPR found out Benton County is handing out more tickets for drunk boating and more tickets for reckless driving than in years past.
In that same time period -- the number of accidents went from a half-dozen to just one last year.
KEPR wanted to know if Benton County's marine patrol has changed your behavior out on the water?
"We used to concentrate just on education, now we do more inspections. People are aware we're paying more attention," said Lt. Joe Lusignan.
Action News discovered this trend of writing more tickets is going on across the state. 70 more tickets for drunk boating were given out from 2008 to 2009.
And the number of tickets for reckless or negligent operation has doubled.
The Fourth of July is always a busy time for boating, but this year may be worse.
"Because the Fourth falls on a weekend this year, we're anticipating more boats on the water," said Lt. Lusignan.
And more potential for trouble, but not if the cops have something to say about it.
Benton County will have three patrol boats on the water this holiday weekend: one around the Tri-Cities, one by the area of Hanford and one watching the water near Paterson.
Action News shows you what kind of impact it's making on cutting down on accidents on the rivers.
On the Fourth of July in the Tri-Cities, the action isn't just in the sky, it's on the water.
And Benton County marine patrol will be out on the water this holiday weekend making sure people are following the rules.
So I called up the state, they track the number of tickets given out on the water. KEPR found out Benton County is handing out more tickets for drunk boating and more tickets for reckless driving than in years past.
In that same time period -- the number of accidents went from a half-dozen to just one last year.
KEPR wanted to know if Benton County's marine patrol has changed your behavior out on the water?
"We used to concentrate just on education, now we do more inspections. People are aware we're paying more attention," said Lt. Joe Lusignan.
Action News discovered this trend of writing more tickets is going on across the state. 70 more tickets for drunk boating were given out from 2008 to 2009.
And the number of tickets for reckless or negligent operation has doubled.
The Fourth of July is always a busy time for boating, but this year may be worse.
"Because the Fourth falls on a weekend this year, we're anticipating more boats on the water," said Lt. Lusignan.
And more potential for trouble, but not if the cops have something to say about it.
Benton County will have three patrol boats on the water this holiday weekend: one around the Tri-Cities, one by the area of Hanford and one watching the water near Paterson.
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