Drunk Boating – It’s A Crime!
Sure, most people take it as a given that when you take the boat out on the lake, of course you’re going to have a few beers. However, most people aren’t aware that the laws on water and the laws on land are surprisingly similar. Sure, there can be alcohol on the boat but not in your car, but that’s just about where the differences end. Accidents on the water can be just as fatal as on land, and punishments for crimes can be just as strict depending on the state.
When you are caught driving a car under the influence it’s called a DUI, however if you’re on a boat it’s called a BUI. The limit in most states for blood alcohol level is the same: .08%. Many boating accidents each year is caused by Boating under the influence. Unlike car accidents, where if you survive the impact, you’ll probably make it; boating accidents have the added difficulty of surviving the accident and then surviving in the water. Even with swimming aids like life jackets, you still have to worry about hypothermia, or in some cases other living things deciding to make a meal of you.
The power to enforce BUI laws is generally left up to the states, however, the coast guard enforces boats entering the US and can patrol national parks. If it is suspected that you may be boating under the influence you may get pulled over, or if there is an accident you might be breathalized, which may add fines and punishment to the accident that you have already endured.
Punishments range based on circumstances, the driver’s police record, the alcohol content of the driver’s blood and the laws governing the particular body of water that you are in. Maximum sentences can be up to 90 days in jail, a $1,000 fine, or both. That’s quite a price to pay for a day out with your friends. Plus, just as with car insurance, your boat insurance rates can go up if you are the party responsible for the accident.
Yes, you want your day out on the water with your friends to be fun, but you also want it to be safe and free of jail time. As with driving on the road, it is always good to have a designated driver. Make sure that you have all your life jackets on and safety equipment at the ready too; just because you might be a safe and sober boater, doesn’t mean the other guy is too.