People have been put through tons and tons of pain due to this problem that many people overlook. There are many downfalls of drinking and driving a boat, the list goes on and on full of harmful side affects and can even lead to casualties. Driving a boat under the influence is overlooked but is a easy and a quick way to spark an injury, it’s like asking for something bad to happen. However, people throughout the world when renting a boat do not think of the bad, they just think about the fun they can have. They do not realize it is practically the same thing as driving a car under the influence. People may think differently, but boating accidents under the influence are occurring more and more almost every single day. Many states are extremely serious and have many rules about this because it is occurring more than ever and resulting in injuries and even casualties. Boating is a fun activity that is often combined with drinking and partying. All 50 states have laws regarding alcohol consumption and boat operation.
In many states, laws for drinking and operating a boat are similar to those associated with driving a car and drinking, regardless of whether or not the boat has a motor on it. The legal limit for drinking and driving is a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08% g/dL, and the same is true for operating a boat. This applies to any boat, including a canoe, kayak, or rowboat.
Operating a boat under the influence of alcohol is a federal offense. Each state may also have its own penalties for drinking and driving a boat in state-controlled waters. Boating can be potentially even more hazardous than operating a motor vehicle, especially when faculties are impaired by alcohol. A person has to be aware of tides, currents, things that may not be visible under the water, other boaters, people or objects in the water, and weather. There are no roads or lines on the water telling boaters where they can and can't drive. This increases the risk of injury to the people on board and others in the area, as well as the risk of damage to the boat.
Even if the boat is anchored, excessive alcohol consumption can be risky while on the water for all of these reasons. Not only can alcohol make it more likely that a person will make unsafe and possibly hazardous choices, it also makes it more difficult to recover from these decisions, which can be fatal when in or on the water. Alcohol and boating can be a dangerous combination, and boat operators can face serious consequences for drinking and boating. State, local, or federal officials; the Coast Guard, sheriffs; park rangers; fish and game wardens; and other members of law enforcement often patrol the waterways checking for boaters who may be driving erratically, who pose a possible threat or danger to themselves or others, or who appear to be under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol. Also, law enforcement keeps a good on eye of this on the water.
All of these law enforcement officers carry chemical testing materials to check an individual's BAC level in order to determine whether or not they are intoxicated. In some cases, such as the appearance of being impaired and the presence of alcohol, even if the BAC level is under 0.08% g/dL, a person may still be charged, arrested, fined, or otherwise penalized.
The voyage is terminated after a BUI incident. A non-drinking member of the boating party may be able to drive the boat to shore in the case of a BUI; however, law enforcement officials may board and impound the boat instead. Law enforcement also has been cracking down on BUI in recent years as driving a boat while intoxicated is no more acceptable than drinking and driving a car. In addition to police and sheriff boat crews on the water, boaters can expect to encounter fish and game wardens, Coast Guard and other local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, all equipped with chemical testing capabilities using blood, breath, and urine samples. These validated ashore and afloat tests give marine law enforcement officers an impressive arsenal in their ongoing efforts to enforce BUI laws.
Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant that slows down bodily functions while also lowering inhibitions, reducing decision-making capabilities, and slowing reaction time and reflexes. Alcohol can make a person sluggish, uncoordinated, and sleepy. It also disrupts balance by causing disturbances in the inner ear, which can make it more difficult for a person to know the difference between up and down, potentially a lifesaving discernment while in the water. Depth perception, focus, memory, and the ability to process information are all impaired by alcohol consumption.
Alcohol interferes with a person's executive functions, which can make someone more impulsive and prone to take bigger risks without regard for the consequences. It can also cause a person to overestimate their own abilities. For instance, someone under the influence of alcohol may think they are a better swimmer than they are, and may push themselves too hard while drinking. Alcohol can distort body temperature, which may lead to the onset of hypothermia while in cold water for too long. While alcohol consumption is not illegal while boating, boat operators should be aware of the laws and potential penalties for operating the vessel while under the influence. To be safe, boat operators should generally stick to the same guidelines that apply to alcohol consumption and driving a car. Without a doubt, driving a boat under the influence is the wrong move and can lead to various harmful things to you, and or the people on the boat with you. This should be taken into consideration by the individual driving the boat to remain sober. It is almost the same as driving a car on land but has other different requirements that people need.
Just like with driving a motor vehicle on land, there is technically no safe amount of alcohol that someone can drink and then operate a boat. Drinking and boating is a practice that is best to be avoided.
Alcohol impacts everyone differently, and being out on the water in the sun may lead to even more variables and complications. Boaters should pack lots of water and other non-alcoholic beverages to enjoy while out on the water. It is important to stay hydrated while being in the sun for any length of time, and being on the water can make this even more essential, especially if there is any amount of alcohol being consumed. Wear a floatation device or life jacket while on a boat, and plan out the trip ahead of time. Consider that being on the water and out in the sun all day can be tiring, and plan to head in before fatigue sets in. This is many of the reasons why drinking and driving a boat is extremely bad and causes all of these injuries and such.
Florida has many rules and they have too because the state is surrounded by huge bodies of water. Florida law prohibits operating a vessel within the state while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. The law defines “vessel” as all “watercraft, barge, and airboat, other than a seaplane on the water, used or capable of being used as a means of transportation on water.” A person can be convicted of boating under the influence (BUI) for operating a vessel. First offense penalties, Most first-offense BUIs are second-degree misdemeanors and carry from $500 to $1,000 in fines and a maximum of six months in jail. Judges are required to sentence first offenders to probation. The total period of probation and jail time can’t exceed one year. Generally, mandatory conditions of probation include 50 hours of community service and ten days of impoundment or immobilization of the offender’s vessel.
If you get all the way up to third offense penalties, you may face jail time, but a very small sentence depending on the damage you have caused to the boating craft or the people you injured while driving under the influence. To conclude, drinking and driving a boat should be treated extremely seriously and not looked over. It is practically the same thing as driving a car under the influence and can cause casualties which is the worst of the worst and something boat owners or renters would really not want to deal with or have happen to them. It is all fun and games until someone actually gets seriously injured. There are many downfalls of drinking and driving a boat, the list goes on and on full of harmful side affects and can even lead to casualties like which was stated.
Works Cited