Two charged with boating under the influence of alcohol

Two men were arrested last weekend and charged with operating watercraft under the influence of alcohol at Smith Mountain Lake, according to conservation police officer Sgt. Bryan Young of the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.

On Friday, a man operating a personal watercraft after sunset was stopped by officers, Young said. The man was charged with operating under the influence and was arrested, Young said.

On Saturday, officers noticed men jumping from a moving pontoon boat, Young said. The officers stopped the boat and charged the driver with operating under the influence, Young said.

There were no reportable accidents on the lake, although traffic was heavy on Saturday, Young said. There were fewer boaters on Sunday, which Young attributed to a storm that blew through the SML area.

In recent weeks, the rainy weather has brought more debris and more work for contractors attempting to remove it from the lake.

Debris has been heavy near Beaver Dam Creek and around Hardy and has been concentrated in the coves near the Roanoke River Channel.

“It’s important for boaters to be very cautious of possible floating debris in the water,” said Young.

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