Chapter 4: The Legal Requirements of Boating
Alcohol and Drugs
Missouri law prohibits anyone from boating while intoxicated—that
is, operating a vessel 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 slow reaction time. Alcohol contributes
to about one-third of all boating accidents nationwide. Read
more about the effects and risks of consuming alcohol in Chapter
5.
Missouri law states that it is evidence of intoxication if a person
has a concentration of alcohol in his or her blood of 0.10% or
more, based upon a chemical analysis of breath, blood or saliva.
Missouri law establishes the following penalties:
- Those convicted of boating while intoxicated are guilty of
a class B misdemeanor upon a first conviction. In addition to
penalties for a Class B misdemeanor, those convicted will be
required to complete and pass an approved boating safety course.
- Upon a second conviction, a person is guilty of a class A misdemeanor.
- Upon a third or subsequent conviction, a person will be guilty
of a class D felony.
- 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 vessel on Missouri 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 above.
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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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