It's the Law: On the Water

Alcohol and Drugs     IC 14-15-8; IC 9-30-5-10

It is illegal to operate a motorboat or a personal watercraft while intoxicated due to alcohol or any combination of alcohol, controlled substance, or drugs. Alcohol and drugs cause impaired balance, blurred vision, poor coordination, impaired judgment, and slower reaction time.

• It is unlawful for owners of motorboats or PWCs to operate or allow anyone else to operate their motorboat or PWC while that person is intoxicated.
  
  
  • Indiana law defines intoxication as having a blood alcohol level of 0.08% or greater, or being under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs such that a person’s thoughts and actions are impaired and he or she has a loss of normal control of faculties to such an extent as to cause danger to others.
  • You also may be arrested if your blood alcohol level is less than 0.08% but over 0.05%.
• Indiana law establishes the following penalties.
  
  
  • If arrested and convicted of boating while intoxicated, you will face the penalties of a Class C misdemeanor. In addition, if this is your first offense or the first in 10 years, you may lose all your driving privileges (motorboat and motor vehicle) for at least 90 days and up to two years.
  • For a second conviction within five years, you may be fined, jailed, and lose the privilege to operate a vehicle, motorboat, or PWC for one to two years. More severe penalties exist for additional convictions.
  • A person boating while intoxicated who causes the death or serious injury of another person will, upon conviction, be guilty of a felony.
  • By operating a motorboat or PWC on Indiana waters, you have consented to be tested for alcohol or drugs if requested by a law enforcement official. If you refuse to be tested, you will be subject to arrest and punishment consistent with the penalties described on the previous page and lose your privilege to operate a motorboat or PWC for at least one year.

Just remember this simple rule:
Don’t Drink and Boat!