Swim or Float

Exposed boulders at Flora Rapids on the Spokane River create an obstacle for river floaters below the Barker Bridge on Sunday.  The Spokane County Sheriff’s Office has adapted a zero-tolerance policy regarding its mandatory life jacket usage law.

Hundreds of people had fun floating down the Spokane River Sunday, but 45 probably didn’t.

Sheriff’s Deputy Wade Nelson said he and two other marine enforcement officers issued about 45 citations for failure to wear life jackets.

The standard penalty is a $76 fine if violators don’t try to get away when a deputy on the riverbank orders them to come ashore. More.

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