As a result of alcohol’s effects, a boat operator with a blood alcohol
concentration of approximately .10 percent is estimated to be more
than 10 times as likely to die in a boating accident than an operator
with zero blood alcohol concentration. Passengers are also at great-
ly increased risk for injury or death, especially if they are also using
alcohol.
The Coast Guard and every state have stringent penalties for vio-
lating BUI laws. Penalties can include large fines, suspension or re-
vocation of boat operator privileges, and jail time. The Coast Guard
and the states cooperate fully in enforcement in order to remove
impaired boat operators from the waters.
In waters that are overseen solely by the states, the states have
the authority to enforce their own BUI statutes. In state waters that
are also subject to U.S. jurisdiction, there is concurrent jurisdiction.
That means if a boater is apprehended under Federal law in these
waters, the Coast Guard will (unless precluded by state law) request
that state law enforcement officers take the intoxicated boater into
custody. Depending on the circumstances, the operator may be
arrested. Penalties vary, but in many jurisdictions operators found
guilty of BUI can expect a civil penalty of at least $1,000 or criminal
penalty of $5,000, one year of imprisonment or both. Civil lawsuits
in cases of property damage or injury/death to others can result in
significantly more serious penalties.
Intoxication from drugs, including legal prescription drugs, is an
equally serious matter and is dealt with as seriously as alcohol.
REGISTRATION, NUMBERING
AND DOCUMENTATION
Although it might not be immediately obvious as to how this re-
lates to boating safety, in fact it can be critical in emergencies. All
undocumented vessels equipped with propulsion machinery must
be registered in the state of principal use. A certificate of number
will be issued upon registering the vehicle. These numbers must be
displayed on your vessel. The owner/operator of the vessel must
carry a valid certificate of number whenever the vessel is in use.
When moving to a new state of principal use, the certificate is valid
for 60 days. Check with your state boating authority for registration
requirements.
Numbers must be painted or permanently attached to each side
of the forward half of the vessel. The validation stickers must be
affixed within six inches of the registration number. With the ex-
ception of the vessel fee decal, no other letters or numbers may be
displayed nearby. Lettering must be in plain, vertical block charac-
ters of not less than three (3) inches in height. Spaces or hyphens
between letter and number groupings must be equal to the width of
a letter other than “i” or a number other than “1.”
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