Drove (boats) Hammered - Got Nailed

The WSP Impaired Driving Unit was out for Seafair boaters
Photo courtesy WSP

More than two dozen suspected impaired boaters were caught on Seafair Weekend thanks to Washington State Patrol Mobile Impaired Driving Unit.

Seafair weekend is a popular time for boaters to hit the waters of Lake Washington. The Washington State Patrol (WSP) works collaboratively with the Seafair organizers, the Mercer Island Police Department and the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife to keep the waters safe for all water users.

During the Seafair weekend, 26 vessel operators, who were suspected of operating boats under the influence of alcohol and or drugs, were processed through the WSP Mobile Impaired Driving Unit (MIDU).

The Unit has all the technical resources
needed to process a suspected driver of boat or car
Photo courtesy WSP

Inside the unit were WSP breath testing technicians, communications dispatchers, and fingerprint technicians. The WSP employees worked to process the several dozen boaters.

Because of the combined efforts of all agencies involved there were no boating related fatalities over the weekend.

 Much of the WSP’s assistance was made possible through a grant from State Farm Insurance.