Boating Under the Influence
A BUI case, also known as boating under the influence, is a serious offense and could result in severe punishments that could ruin your life. Boating under the influence charges can be just as serious as DUI charges, depending on the laws in your state. If you have been arrested for BUI or for boating under the influence, you should enlist the help of an experienced DUI lawyer if you want to avoid severe penalties.
Boating under the influence of alcohol or drugs is, in many ways, even more dangerous that driving under the influence. Alcohol can negatively impact judgment, balance, coordination, vision, and increase the likelihood of risk-taking behavior. In fact, information from the United States Coast Guard shows that in boating deaths involving alcohol use, over half the victims capsized their boats and/or fell overboard.
A BUI case or a boating under the influence case can turn your life upside down. Don’t delay in reaching out to a DUI attorney who can help you save your license and to stay out of jail. Contact a lawyer who will discuss the detail of your case with you.
Boats, by their nature, are inferior to cars in their ability to steer and to brake. Moreover, the typical boat operator is not out on the water practicing on a daily basis, making boat operators less skilled on the water than they are on land. When this is coupled with the motion and spray typical of most boating outings, along with fatigue and alcohol consumption, the potential for danger is obvious.
Boating under the influence laws vary from state to state. However, in most states a conviction for boating under the influence is very similar to a driving under the influence charge. Boating under the influence can result in jail time, fines, required attendance at lengthy alcohol education programs, boating safety classes with an additional alcohol education component, community service or hard labor, and much more. A DUI lawyer can help you save yourself from these penalties.
A conviction for boating under the influence may even be "priorable" for purposes of a future driving under the influence case. This means that if a person is convicted of boating under the influence, and, within a specified period of time (usually 5, 7, or 10 years), that person is arrested for DUI on land, the DUI will be considered a second-offense case. This is true even if the DUI arrest is the first time the person has ever been arrested on land.
The United States Coast Guard offers many helpful suggestions to avoid problems related to boating under the influence. As might be expected, the cornerstone of these suggestions is to abstain from consuming excessive alcohol, and recognizing that drinking ANY amount of alcohol can be a threat to the safety of all concerned.
Your boating under the influence or BUI case can be devastating if you are convicted in the end. You will be punished for drunk driving in a boat or in a car. This is why you should get a knowledgeable lawyer working for you right away if you have been charged with drunk driving or drunk boating in any state.