People trying to escape the hot weather by taking a plunge from one of the many bridges over Benton County rivers may face a fine.

The Benton County Sheriff's office says it's a criminal misdemeanor to jump from the cable bridge and other bridges or structures that span rivers in the county and can be punished with a fine of $1,000, 90-day jail stay or both.

Deputy Tom Morton tells the Tri-City Herald (http://bit.ly/NeftEs) that it's not very common for people to jump off bridges.

Morton says it's a safety risk, too. He says the combination of unpredictable river currents, debris that gets stuck near bridges and boat traffic make it dangerous for the jumper and boaters.