Sipping on a cold beer while boating down the Susquehanna River on a hot summer's day seems totally normal. But just like driving on terra firma, Pennsylvania police take boating under the influence (or BUI) very seriously.
An article about the state's planned crackdown on BUI violators in The York Dispatch quotes Waterways Conservation Officer Dave Hurst, who describes how many people believe drinking and boating "go hand-in-hand" but that it can be a deadly combination:
"If things go bad, you're in the middle of the river. You have to have your wits about you."
Charges for boating under the influence are nearly identical to those for drunken driving and can best be handled by Philadelphia DUI lawyers.
More important than the risk of getting caught, though, is understanding the inherent dangers of boating and how operating a boat under the influence can multiply these dangers. A large percentage of boating accidents are directly related to BUI, Dave Hurst said.
Hurst said that when two boats collide, one typically goes over the top of the second boat and creates a risk of serious injury from the boat's propeller. Drowning, of course, is another major hazard; life preservers should be worn on boats at all times.
The BUI crackdown kicked into high gear over the July 4 holiday weekend, according to the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission. State waterways officers are no different than officers on land and have full arrest powers.
While 57 people were arrested for BUI in the Keystone State last year, seven have been arrested for the violation so far this year, a Fish & Boat spokesman said. Six of those seven arrests were on the Susquehanna River near York County.
A total of 62 people died in boating-related accidents in Pennsylvania last year, not necessarily caused by alcohol.
Related Resources:
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Boating Under the Influence (BUI) (FindLaw)
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Don't Let Boating "Under the Influence" Spoil Fun on the Water (FindLaw's Insider Blog)
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Consult with a Philadelphia DUI Lawyer (FindLaw)
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