It's not only illegal to drive a car under the influence of alcohol or other drugs, but it's also illegal to operate any vehicle in Arizona while impaired. This includes operating a boat under the influence, which is also known as "boating under the influence," which law enforcement officers are now enforcing in the summer season.
ABC News reports that Maricopa County Sheriff's deputies and Arizona Fish and Game Department officials have been conducting sobriety checkpoints on the water to arrest impaired boater operators. The state's checkpoint data indicates that more than 50 percent of the state's boat operators are involved with the consumption of alcohol while operating a watercraft and that 40 percent of all Arizona boating deaths have involved alcohol.
A person that is caught boating under the influence can be charged with OUI, which has similar consequences to a DUI in Arizona. Like the state's DUI law, Arizona prohibits operation of a motorized watercraft with a Blood Alcohol Concentration of .08 or higher.
Now that we're in the heart of the summer season, Arizona DUI attorneys will probably start working on cases that involve OUIs. A person accused of OUI always has the right to speak to an Arizona DUI attorney to learn more information about operating a boat under the influence charges and to ensure that his or her rights are being protected in such a case.
For boating safety information in the state, contact the Arizona Game and Fish Department at 623-236-7235. To contact a local Arizona DUI attorney, see FindLaw's directory.
Related Resources:
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I Can Get a DUI on my Boat? (FindLaw's Insider Blog)
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Locate an Arizona DUI Attorney (FindLaw)
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Don't Let Boating "Under the Influence" Spoil Fun on the Water (FindLaw's Insider Blog)
