| The idea of grabbing a few drinks and heading out | | | | When investigating your states specifics, also be |
| onto the water for a day of fun in the sun sounds | | | | certain to find out the alcohol level that is considered |
| idyllic. After all, the water is wide open and it's just | | | | high enough to be BWI (boating while intoxicated). |
| you with your buddies or family having a great time. | | | | The Effects of Drunk Boating |
| Unfortunately, many boaters forget that the normal | | | | There are no structured lanes or avenues out on the |
| impairment that comes along with drinking is only | | | | water. Normally it is up to the keen eye and |
| exacerbated by the environment upon which boating | | | | attention of captains and skippers to recognize |
| takes place. The sun, unevenness of the water, | | | | off-limit areas and steer clear of other boaters. |
| manipulation of the boat, and general lack of highly | | | | Drunk boaters have an exceedingly tough time |
| structured rules and regulations make it all too easy | | | | negotiating all of that potential stimulus and making |
| for unfortunate incidences to occur. | | | | good decisions in time. This is why we see so many |
| An astounding number of boating accidents every | | | | accidents and fatalities every year. |
| year are attributed to drunk boating, and they could | | | | One of the most common causes of fatality is |
| have been prevented with a little common sense and | | | | passengers going overboard. When drunk the |
| precaution. | | | | individuals do not have the presence of mind to |
| Drunk Boating Laws | | | | properly control themselves to wait for rescue, and |
| The laws for drinking and boating vary from state to | | | | when combined with a drunk skipper who hasn't |
| state. If you intend to boat, it is your personal | | | | recognized they've gone over, the results are |
| responsibility to understand the regulations in your | | | | disastrous. |
| state. | | | | Legal Aspects For Responsible Boaters |
| However, in general, there is a steep penalty if you | | | | If you are a responsible boater and have been |
| are found to be drunk while operation a watercraft. | | | | injured by someone you believe was intoxicated |
| Coast Guard officers have the same ability to | | | | while boating, you need to consult legal |
| conduct sobriety tests arrests as normal police | | | | representation right away. The more time that |
| officers, and are just as capable of committing | | | | passes, the more difficult it will be to prove your |
| arrests and impounding vehicles. It's important not to | | | | case. |
| consider them a lesser form of law enforcement. | | | | |