Dangers of Boating Under the Influence (BUI)

 

Just like the dangers of drunk driving, Boating Under the Influence or BUI also has a lot of risks. Enjoying a sunny day on the boat with your family may not seem like a life threatening issue, but this peaceful and relaxing experience can become dangerous by drinking a few beers.

 

Boating Under the Influence is as deadly and dangerous as drinking and driving and is considered a serious offense. You would be surprised to know that every state and the federal government have laws against Boating Under the Influence, just like there are laws for drunk driving. These laws allow law enforcement officials to stop boats and other watercraft to make sure that the people operating them are not drunk or under the influence of drugs.

 

BUI laws ensure the safety of passengers in a boat as well as passengers in other boats and watercrafts. If someone is charged with BUI, they will have to face serious financial consequences and they can end up having a criminal record, just like in the case of drunk driving. Anyone charged with BUI will have to face jail time, incur heavy fines and also face an increase in their auto insurance rates.

 

What is the legal BAC limit for BUI?

 

In most states, the allowed legal limit of BAC (Blood Alcohol Content) for BUI is 0.08 percent for recreational vessels and 0.04 percent for commercial crafts. In some states, this limit is set to 0.10 percent but in almost all states, the statute sets a zero tolerance limit for water craft such as aquaplanes and water skis, meaning that the user cannot ingest any alcohol at all.

 

Why is BUI considered dangerous?

 

Boating under the influence of drugs or any other controlled substance is considered dangerous because of the effects alcohol and other drugs have on the human body. These effects include lack of balance and coordination, and impaired judgment. Moreover, statistics and reports provided by the United States Coast Guard show that in most boating accidents, the boat capsizes, throwing passengers overboard resulting in the death of the person operating it.

 

Boat accidents are also dangerous because boats do not have a superior ability of steering. Boats also do not have brakes and are operated by less skilled operators. This is true for people going on vacations occasionally or once or twice every year. To avoid accidents, one should make sure not to drink and operate a boat to prevent the dangerous effects of alcohol.

 

Effects of Alcohol

 

Excess alcohol consumption can have several physical effects on the human body, such as impaired physical performance in terms of loss of balance and coordination, deterioration of cognitive abilities, difficulty in focusing and distinguishing colors along with disturbances in hearing. Statistics show that due to these factors, people operating a boat with BAC above 0.10 percent are 10 times more likely to die in a boating accident than if they were operating the boat without any alcohol in their system.

 

How will a BUI affect you?

 

If you are charged and convicted for BUI, it will count as a prior conviction for future drunk driving cases within 10 years. This is why you should make sure that you do not operate a boat or any other motor vehicle after drinking