DUI While Boating

    ORLANDO, FL, March 31, 2012 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Like a motor vehicle, a boat is a moving vehicle that must be operated safely and in accordance with state and federal regulations. Also like motor vehicles, DUI charges can be brought against a person who operates a boat while intoxicated.

What is a Boating DUI?

Although it is not typically illegal for you and your passengers to enjoy alcoholic beverages while on-board your boat, you may be charged with DUI if state or federal authorities find you are over the legal limit. Boating DUIs typically occur when a boater is stopped by law enforcement officials for:

- Operating a boat aggressively or erratically
- Improper boating equipment
- Inadequate safety equipment
- Registration numbers not visible

Although intoxication may not be the reason for being pulled over by authorities, authorities may stop you for another reason and consequently ask you to take a Breathalyzer test.

DUI while boating can stem from operating any kind of boat while intoxicated, including canoes and other non-motorized boats. Every state has laws against DUI while boating, and the Coast Guard has a federal law prohibiting it as well. In many states, the legal limit for boating is the same as motor vehicles, which is 0.08 blood alcohol content. Before boating in a lake, river, or on the ocean, you should familiarize yourself with the regulations pertaining to alcohol consumption in that specific locale and body of water.

Consequences of DUI while Boating

Like a motor vehicle DUI, a boating while intoxicated conviction can carry a number of serious criminal consequences, including:

- Hefty fines
- Loss of boating privileges
- Jail time

According to the Coast Guard, about a third of all recreational boating fatalities can be attributed to alcohol use. Intoxication affects the very abilities you need to boat safely - namely vision, balance, problem solving and judgment - and the wind, motion, and direct sun can make the impairing affects of alcohol develop much more rapidly.

In some states, a DUI while boating can affect your motor vehicle driving privileges. In certain situations, a criminal defense attorney can fight to reduce the severity of your punishment and make sure your rights were not violated at any point from when authorities boarded your boat to when you were arrested.

To learn more about DUI while boating in the state of Florida, please visit the website of the experienced Orlando DUI lawyers at the Umansky Law Firm.

Website: http://www.orlandocrimedefense.com

# # #