COEUR d'ALENE - Kootenai County Marine deputies will be out in force this weekend looking for boaters under the influence, and if you're caught, you're going to pay.

"There is nothing wrong with having alcohol on the boat while you're out here on the lake," said Marine Deputy Josh Sterns. "But if you beach your boat on Tubbs Hill, you need to know that the city's laws apply and it's illegal to have alcohol on that beach."

Sterns and his partner, Marine Deputy Bob Bjelland, will join another dozen marine patrol deputies in patrolling all of Kootenai County's navigable lakes this weekend as part of a national emphasis patrol, called Operation Dry Water.

The program is an intensified effort of detection and deterrence aimed at boaters who are operating a boat under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Bjelland, who has been a marine deputy for eight years, explained that Boating Under the Influence laws differ from Driving Under the Influence laws in Idaho.

For instance, he said if they pull a driver over on the water they will give a suspected drunken driver a "seated" field sobriety test to determine if he or she is intoxicated.

"If they score enough clues in that test, we ask for a breath sample," Bjelland said. "If they refuse to do that, we automatically arrest them and it will cost them an extra $200 (if they are convicted)."

However, the driver does not have to surrender his or her driver's license as they would if they refused a breath test while driving an automobile.

Also, Bjelland said boating under the influence will not go on a suspect's driving record even if the suspect is convicted.

"You can even drink and drive a boat legally," he said. "As long as you are not intoxicated."

Bjelland said the key to enjoying a day on the lake with a few beers is to drink a lot of water between the beers. He said alcohol has an amplified effect on drinkers when they are boating due to "natural stressers."

The wave action on the water causes the body's equilibrium to work overtime in order to maintain balance while boating. That combined with the heat and sun can make the body more vulnerable to the effects of alcohol.

"The estimate is that one beer has the effect of three beers while boating," he said. "Of course that doesn't mean your blood alcohol level goes up, but the effects of the alcohol are more intense."

Stern said the deputies usually give warnings for certain infractions, but they have zero tolerance for Boating Under the Influence.

"There will be no warnings for that," he said

Bjelland said if a boater is suspected of BUI, the officer will cite the driver and release them if there is a sober occupant in the boat, or have the boat towed, and in some cases impounded.

"If someone gets combative, well, they are going to jail," he said.

The intent of the program is not to interfere with the boating public, Bjelland said.

"We are just trying to make sure nobody gets hurt," he said, adding the lake is likely to get pretty busy as the temperatures peak into the high 90s this weekend.

"That is really the bigger part of this," Stern added. "We want to educate boaters and stop any trouble before it happens."

While on patrol Thursday, the deputies stopped three teenagers for approaching a couple of kayaks at a high rate of speed on personal watercraft.

After a safety inspection and checking them for registrations, the deputies let them off on a warning for most of their violations, which could have cost them close to $1,000, but issued them one $72 citation for failure to provide registrations - and a lecture.

"You put those kayakers in a pretty dangerous situation," Stern said.

Bjelland also handed two of the teens whistles, which are required safety gear, and gave them yet another warning.

"That right there is a $99 whistle," he said. "That's what it would cost you if I had to write you a ticket for not having one."