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Sheriff deputies have big day with drunken boating patrols

KING COUNTY, Wash. — On the biggest day of the summer's biggest party on Lake Washington, King County Sheriff's Marine Deputy Chris Bedker is navigating his way into the thick of it. 
 
"But hey, it's Seafair, wooo!" Bedker said.
 
The goal of every marine patrol unit during Seafair weekend is to make sure everyone on every vessel remains safe.

 For Bedker, that means keeping a keen eye out for what boaters do that can quickly turn into tragedy.

"That's why we're out here promoting safety and making sure they got everything," Bedker said. 
 
Bedker has been a part of the unit since 2000.  He said the most common boating infractions include boating under the influence, negligent operation, reckless operation and carrying persons outside of the vessel.

"The stuff that's really dangerous that's going to get somebody hurt or killed," Bedker said. 
 
KIRO 7 was there when Bedker encountered a boat where one of the passengers had his leg dragging in the water.
 
"Hey Captain!" Bedker said. "As the operator, you're responsible for everybody. Why are you allowing people to ride outside your vessel while underway? They gotta be sitting inside the boat."
 
Bedker then inspected the boat to make sure there were enough life jackets for all 15 people on board.  
 
But, Bedker insists, they are not just trying to hassle boaters.
 
"We want to make sure [boaters] are safe," Bedker said. "And that everybody's following the rules and people don't get hurt or worse."
 
By 6:30 p.m. Sunday, there were at least 22 suspected BUI arrests.

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