Boating Under the Influence
Boating is becoming more popular every day, but many recreational boaters don’t realize that operating a vessel while under the influence of alcohol or drugs is a crime. Boating under the influence, or BUI, is punishable with fines and possible jail time. Because the potential consequences of a BUI conviction are so severe, any boater charged with operating a vessel under the influence of alcohol or drugs needs expert legal help. The skilled attorneys of www.NotDrunk.com have experience defending every type of boating under the influence case.
Although laws vary from state to state, many jurisdictions define boating under the influence as having a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .08 percent for recreational vessels and .04 percent for commercial craft. For watercraft such as aquaplanes and water skis, many states have zero tolerance, meaning that the user cannot consume any alcohol at all.
Boating under the influence laws have become stricter over the passage time. In some respects, BUI is even more dangerous that driving under the influence in a car. Alcohol can negatively impact balance, coordination, judgment, and vision, and increases the likelihood of risk-taking behavior. According to the United States Coast Guard, over half of boating deaths involving alcohol use involve individuals who capsized their boats or fell overboard.
Cars are far superior to boats in their ability to brake and steer. Also, a typical boater spends just a few days a year on the water, and may be far less skilled at operating watercraft than at driving a car. Considering the motion and spray typical of most boating outings, along with fatigue and alcohol consumption, the potential for danger is obvious.
In many states, a BUI conviction counts as a prior offense in drunk driving cases. This means that if a person is convicted of boating under the influence, and is arrested for drunk driving on land or water within a certain number of years, the DUI will be considered a second offense.
Boating under the influence carries substantial penalties, but getting convicted isn’t a sure thing – far from it. The charges can be fought and won with the help of a top attorney. A skilled lawyer from www.NotDrunk.com with experience defending BUI / BWI cases can launch an aggressive defense strategy designed to protect the boater’s rights and keep negative repercussions to a minimum.