Kellogg man first arrested under new boating law

A Kellogg man has the dubious distinction of being the first Iowa boater to be arrested for refusing to submit to an alcohol test. 23-year-old Patrick McClelland was stopped after officials observed what they believed to be reckless boating on Lake Red Rock in Marion County. McClelland refused to submit to a sobriety test. Iowa Department of Natural Resources spokesman Sonny Satre says McClelland was arrested under Iowa’s new drunken boating law.He says refusal to take the test can result in a 500 dollar fine and loss of boating privileges for one year. Satre says the law gives D-N-R officers authority to check out boaters who appear to be acting funny.The new law went into effect July 1st. Satre says there haven’t been many problems as people seem to be aware of the new law.Drunken boating had been illegal prior to the new law, but there were no penalties and no standard for judging who is and who isn’t too drunk to boat. McClelland was charged with suspicion of boating while intoxicated.