A recent USA Today article on boating under the influence shows that numerous states are stepping up enforcement. In addition, the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators is pushing for a national marine field sobriety test standard that would enable patrol officers to test boaters while they’re seated.
See video here: States crack down on drunken boaters.
Here are points from the different states noted in the article:
- Oklahoma has lowered it’s legal blood alcohol level from .10% to .08%.
- Iowa will reduce their legal blood alcohol level from .10% to .08% beginning July 1, 2011.
- North Carolina has stepped up their enforcement on both driving and boating under the influence.
- Texas has the police working hand-in-hand with Judges to expedite warrants to draw blood from suspected impaired boaters.
- New York will no longer treat impaired boaters as first time offenders if they have had a prior DUI.
In Florida, Boating Under the Influence (BUI) has always been aggressively enforced by the Florida Marine Patrol.
Boating Under the Influence is covered under Florida Statute §327.35. It carries many of the same penalties as DUI in Florida with a few exceptions.
