Eight boating DUI citations over weekend

Reports from the Kootenai County Sheriff's Office marine deputies over the weekend shared a recurring theme: "The operator exhibited signs of intoxication."

KCSO issued five citations to boaters for operating under the influence on Saturday alone, and three more on Sunday.

In each case, boat operators failed the standarized field sobriety tests and in each instance, the operator refused to provide a breath sample.

Vessels were stopped on the Spokane River near Greensferry, Blackwell Island and the mouth of the river. They were also stopped near Harrison and the Honeysuckle boat launch.

The stops were for expired registration; a wake-zone violation; no navigation lights; negligent operations and no invasive species sticker.

Sheriff Bob Norris has stated that deputies will be tough on hazardous, dangerous vessel activity. It's already been a busy summer season on the water.

“We’re going to continue this level of enforcement throughout the summer and maintain the aggressive push against dangerous vessel operations,” he said in a previous interview with The Press.