During fishing trips at Lake Coeur d'Alene as a kid, Bryan Gregg said, it was always clear which boaters had just left the bar.

"There'd be a no-wake zone and they wouldn't even pay attention to it," recalled Gregg, manager at Orvis Northwest Outfitters in Coeur d'Alene. "They'd up to full throttle before they were even out of the wake zone."

But he has observed more sober sailing on Lake Coeur d'Alene in recent years, he said.

"I think the cops are doing a much better job nowadays," Gregg said of monitoring drinking while boating. "It's really just up to the people, it's their lives. If they want to go out there and have six people in their boat and get smashed, hopefully you get caught and won't do it again."

That's what law enforcement has in mind.

In concert with a nationwide effort, the Kootenai County Sheriff's Department will be cracking down on boating under the influence this weekend.

Patrols will be cruising local waters, with violators potentially facing heavy fines or jail time, said Sgt. Ryan Higgins, depending on the extremity of their actions.

"Drinking and boating are not a very good combination," Higgins said. "If you want to save lives, don't drink and boat, and wear your life vest."

Kootenai County has only averaged one or two boating fatalities a year over the past decade, he added.

But the area does see about 30 to 40 crashes a year, he noted. Only one or two are serious, Higgins said, but even minor crashes, like boats smacking into pilings, aren't pleasant.

A hazardous incident already occurred in May, Higgins added. A boater who had been drinking ran his boat roughly 30 feet ashore off Lake Coeur d'Alene.

"The major crashes, where there's serious or potential injuries, usually alcohol is a factor," he said.

Martin Stacey with the Coeur d'Alene Rowing Association said he has never observed issues with drinking on water crafts at Fernan Lake, where the club is active.

"I never see any evidence of alcohol on Fernan, never," Stacey said. "I want to commend the sheriff's department for being rather vigilant."

Higgins cautioned that courts can require those caught boating under the influence to attend a boating safety class. Boating privileges can also be suspended.

"Just use caution, common sense, and enjoy the weather," Higgins said.