Thousands of boaters descend on Lake Havasu on weekends, especially holidays, to bask in the sun, be seen in their boats and party.

The "party girls" of Havasu are famous enough to be the most often searched term on my website. But with deaths and injuries a constant presence, a police task force patrols the lake looking for boaters who have had too much to drink. Many are cited, some are arrested and others engage in responsible boating by designating a sober driver. Boating Under the Influence, or BUI, carries the same offense as Driving Under the Influence, yet is far less known. For the purposes of this gallery, I accompanied law enforcement as well those enjoying the holiday weekend with designated boaters while on assignment for People. Anyone detained or seen with law enforcement in the photos is presumed innocent.

These images are not licensable directly through my website. If you are interested in publishing images from this gallery for editorial purposes (no commercial use is permitted without contacting me first), please email LicensingCompliance@ToddBigelowPhotography.com