It may be illegal to operate a boat or a personal watercraft while you are under the influence of alcohol or other drugs, but you won't lose your driver's license over it.
The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has agreed to pay $5.6 million to 753 vessel operators for suspending their vehicle driver's licenses because they were convicted of boating under the influence (BUI), reports The Log.
A Los Angeles court ruled in 2007 that the DMV did not have legal authority to suspend the licenses of those convicted of BUIs. The DMV stopped the practice in 2008, but not before a class action lawsuit was brought against the DMV "to vindicate the rights of California motorists," according to The Log.
Although you won't lose your driver's license, a BUI can still have serious consequences. BUI convictions can be placed on your driving record, and used to enhance a DUI sentence if you are convicted of a motor vehicle DUI. You are also subject to the same penalties as a DUI, such as jail time and hefty fines and fees.
Further, the U.S. Coast Guard has claimed that alcohol can be more hazardous on water than on land, with boating fatalities increasing by 34 percent when alcohol is involved. With such harsh statistics, it may not be surprising to read that California law enforcement officers have set up BUI checkpoints on the water, especially during the holidays.
A Los Angeles DUI attorney can answer any questions or represent you in court for a BUI, just as they do for those convicted of road vehicle DUIs. For more information on boating under the influence, see our Related Resources section.
Related Resources:
- Find a Los Angeles DUI Attorney (FindLaw)
- Boating Under the Influence (FindLaw)
- Boating Under the Influence: FAQs (FindLaw)
- Don't Let Boating "Under the Influence" Spoil Fun on the Water (FindLaw Insider Blog)
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