Chapter 4: The Legal Requirements of Boating
Alcohol and Drugs
Washington law prohibits anyone from boating while intoxicated—that is,
operating under the influence ( OUI). This means operating any vessel while under
the influence of intoxicating liquor (alcohol) or any drug. Alcohol and drugs cause
impaired balance, blurred vision, poor coordination, impaired judgment, and
slower reaction times. Alcohol contributes to about one-third of all fatal boating accidents nationwide. Read
more about the effects and risks of consuming alcohol while boating.
Washington law states that a person is operating under the influence if he or
she:
- Has a blood or breath alcohol concentration of 0.08 grams or greater or ...
- Is under the influence of or affected by alcohol and/or any drug.
Washington law establishes the following penalties for operating under the
influence (OUI).
- A person convicted of OUI may be imprisoned in the county jail for up to
90 days, or be fined up to $1,000, or be penalized with both imprisonment
and a fine. In addition, the court may order the defendant to pay restitution
for any damages or injuries resulting from the offense.
- If someone dies or is seriously injured as the result of another person
boating while intoxicated, the convicted person also may be charged with a
felony, punishable by imprisonment in a state correctional institution and a
substantial fine.
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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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