Authorities out in force at Shaver Lake to keep boaters safe

SHAVER LAKE (KFSN) -- A busy day at Shaver Lake means non-stop work for the Fresno County Sheriff's office.

With Eagle One in the air and the boating enforcement unit on the water, deputies wasted no time making sure those out enjoying the holiday weekend were doing it safely.

Action News rode along with Deputy Clint Horn and his partner as they executed Operation Dry Weekend. The goal: find people boating while under the influence.

"We look for the same things we would in an erratic driver," he said. "So, too close to their boats violating the counter-clockwise pattern."

One person was stopped. He was not drinking but was spotted going in a direction that is dangerous.

"When people violate that and go clockwise, there's a tremendous likelihood that there could be a head-on boating collision," Horn said.

After each stop and before the driver takes off, an inspection is done to make sure those out on the water are prepared. And people like David Morales says it's good to see law enforcement out in full force.

"As you can see they are right behind us over here and we saw the helicopter flyover," he said. "So, it's good to see they're a presence out here. They're doing a good job.

It's a job that, by the end of these two deputies shift Sunday, ended with no arrests or citations issued. Alcohol use is responsible for 15 percent of boating fatalities, and just like driving a car, the legal blood alcohol content limit for a person operating a boat or jet ski is 0.08 percent.