Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) enforcement agents increased their boating patrols during the Float Fest event in St. Tammany Parish on Aug. 2.

During the Float Fest event on Lake Pontchartrain, agents arrested three subjects for driving or operating a vessel while impaired (DWI) while also issuing 22 citations and warnings for various safe boating law violations.

Agents arrested Justin Barras, 41, of Mereaux, Jeremiah Carroll, 74, of Slidell, and Cameron Bertoniere, 18, of Madisonville, for alleged DWI and booked them into the St. Tammany Parish Jail.

Float Fest has been growing each year since its inception in 2023. It is estimated that 500 to 1,000 vessels with multiple passengers per vessel attended the event, which is a drastic increase in waterway traffic for this area.

The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office Marine Division also provided safe boating patrols for this event.

There were zero reported boating incidents or injuries for this event.

Anyone cited for a DWI on the water or on the road will lose his or her driver's license and boating privileges for the specified time ordered by the judge in the case. Also, each offense of operating a vehicle or vessel while intoxicated counts toward the total number of DWI crimes whether they happened on the water or road.

First offense DWI carries a $300 to $1,000 fine and up to six months in jail. Second offense DWI brings a $750 to $1,000 fine and 30 days to six months in jail. Careless operation of a watercraft brings up to a $300 fine and 30 days in jail.