Chapter 4: The Legal Requirements of Boating
Alcohol and Drugs
Iowa law prohibits anyone from boating while intoxicated (BWI). This includes
the operation of any vessel or manipulation of any water skis, a surfboard, or similar
device while under the influence of an alcoholic beverage; marijuana; a narcotic,
hypnotic, or other drug; or any combination of these substances.
Alcohol and drugs cause impaired balance, blurred vision, poor coordination,
impaired judgment, and slower reaction time. Alcohol contributes to about one-third
of all fatal boating accidents nationwide. Read
more about the effects and risks of consuming alcohol.
Iowa law states that a person is considered to be boating while intoxicated
(BWI) if he or she:
- Is under the influence of an alcoholic beverage or other drug or a combination
of such substances or …
- Has a blood, breath, or urine alcohol concentration of 0.10% or more or …
- Has any amount of a controlled substance present in his or her person, as
measured in blood or urine.
Iowa law establishes the following penalties for boating while intoxicated.
- Upon a first conviction, a person may be fined $1,000, jailed for at least 48
hours, and prohibited from operating a vessel for one year.
- Upon a second conviction, a person may be fined up to $5,000, jailed for at
least 7 days, and prohibited from operating a vessel for two years.
- Upon the third and subsequent convictions, a person may be fined up to $7,500,
jailed up to one year, and prohibited from operating a vessel for six years.
- In addition, persons convicted of BWI will be assigned to substance abuse
evaluation/treatment and a course for drinking drivers.
- Persons convicted of BWI who caused the death or injury of someone will
receive severe penalties in addition to those above.
By operating a vessel on Iowa waters, you have given “implied” consent to
alcohol testing. For a first offense of refusing to be tested, you can be fined up
to $500 and lose your operating privileges for up to one year.
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Areas of Impairment Due to Blood Alcohol
Concentration (BAC)
Because you can drink faster than your system can burn
off the alcohol, there is an increasing level of alcohol in your blood.
This level is referred to as Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC). |
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