Sheriff's office increases boat patrol on area lakes

In an effort to promote water safety, the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office has ramped up its patrol of area lakes this summer.

The sheriff’s department is dedicating more resources than it has in previous years to patrolling both Flathead Lake and Echo Lake.

“We hit the shoreline and check boats for (adequate number of) life jackets, horns and, depending on the size of the boat, fire extinguishers,” said deputy Travis Bruyer.

In addition to conducting random safety checks, personnel from the sheriff’s department look for broken down boats that might need help making it back to their launch sites.

“Last week we found a boat broken down and drifting near some rocks,” Bruyer said. “We towed them back to shore, no charge.”

The department tries to have someone on Flathead Lake from noon to dusk on the weekends, with additional spot checks during the week.

“Just our mere presence helps (increase safety),” Bruyer said. “It’s funny, even though you’re not required to have a life jacket on just because you’re in a boat, you see people scrambling to put one on if they see us go by.”

On Echo Lake, most of the department’s patrol has revolved around enforcing the no-wake rule that went into effect earlier this summer as a result of higher-than-normal water levels.

“We get a lot of complaints from property owners over there who are concerned with the damage to their property,” Bruyer said. “We just pull them (boaters) over and explain the rules. We’re all just trying to get along out there.”

According to Flathead County Undersheriff Jordan White, alcohol consumption is also a concern.

Boat operators can be ticketed for boating under the influence.

However, even though the amount of the fine is comparable to one that would be issued for driving under the influence, it does not go on the boater’s driving record, as is the case in many other states.

White said that issue has been brought up with the state legislature and he hopes it will change in the near future.

“It (the current system) doesn’t grant us the same tracking of penalties as a DUI does, and that’s what they’re trying to change,” White said.