
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, July 4, 1990                   TAG: 9007040258
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-12   EDITION: HOLIDAY 
SOURCE: By NEAL THOMPSON NEW RIVER VALLEY BUREAU
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

LAKES TO BE PATROLLED FOR DRUNKEN BOATERS

While police and state troopers are busy chasing drunken drivers on the highways, state fish and game officials will be chasing suspected drunken boaters on Smith Mountain and Claytor lakes.

Game wardens and sheriff's deputies in Bedford and Franklin counties are teaming up this week to handle the year's busiest week of boating at Smith Mountain Lake.

More than 20,000 boats were expected to crowd the lake for two fireworks displays Tuesday night - that's about one boat per acre on the 22,000-acre lake.

"And unfortunately, people who get in boats think that the only thing they need other than a life jacket is a cooler of beer," said Lt. Karl Martin of the state Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.

Beer drinking can be more dangerous in a boat than on the road because alcohol has a greater effect on people exposed to the sun and the wind and noise of a motorboat.

While some boaters are learning to use designated drivers, "some learned the hard way," Martin said.

Since Friday, patrols have arrested two people on suspicion of driving boats under the influence, and have arrested a dozen others on alcohol- and drug-related charges.

And with predictions of good weather, it may only get worse, Martin said.

The 2-year-old SWAMP program, Safer Waterways through Alcohol Monitoring Patrols, covers the lake with six patrol boats manned by a game warden and two deputies.

At Claytor Lake, Lt. Wayne Marshall of the state game department's regional office in Marion said: "We're going to make every effort to find every person operating under the influence that we can."

Marshall said about 30 wardens and officers will be patrolling lakes in the 18-county southwestern district. Many of them will be in patrol boats on Claytor Lake.

And not only will they seek intoxicated boaters from the water, but they'll also do it from the air.

A plane will buzz Claytor Lake for most of the week to determine in which areas wardens are needed, Marshall said.

Alcohol-related boating incidents on Claytor Lake have been few in recent years. But because the number of boaters skyrockets on a holiday, they're not taking any chances, Marshall said.

"We hope we don't have to take anybody off to jail. But we will if we have to," he said.

by CNB