Phoenix DUI Attorney Nick Alcock:  Why a charge for Boating Under the Influence

During the summer months a great number of people head out to enjoy a relaxing or “party” weekend likely to be spent at any number of lakes the great state of Arizona has to offer.  Maybe you and your friends/family are headed to a popular destination like Lake Havasu or Lake Powell.  At Alcock and Associates, our DUI attorneys take this opportunity to remind everyone that operating a boat while under the influence of alcohol or drugs is every bit as serious and as dangerous as driving a car on a roadway.

The legal limit for blood alcohol in both cases is the same: 0.08.  In fact, so are the penalties.  The charge of “Boating Under the Influence (BUI)” could lead to your driver’s license being suspended or revoked.  You might also be looking at jail time, heavy fines, probation and more.  While most BUIs are charged as misdemeanors, those that result in an injury to another person can be charged as a felony and result in increased jail time.  A BUI offense causing the death of another person could carry a punishment of up to 10 years in jail.

Particularly during holiday weekends, law enforcement officials are out in full force will their eyes peeled wide open looking for any signs of erratic behavior.  Known as saturation patrols, officers from the Arizona Game and Fish Department and other agencies in Arizona are out to detect and remove impaired (unsafe) boaters to save lives.

If stopped by an officer who suspects alcohol or drugs may be involved, the individual operating the boat will most likely be asked to perform field sobriety tests and to take a chemical test.  If your boat operator is sober and the boat is safe, you’ll quickly be on your way again.

Again, at Alcock and Associates, our primary goal is for you to have a safe and enjoyable holiday weekend experience.  However, if you should find yourself charged with BUI, please give our law firm a call right away at 602-989-5000.  The initial consultation is always free.  Our criminal defense attorneys are highly experienced and familiar with Arizona’s state BUI laws and have successfully handled many such cases.  We will fight hard to help keep your legal consequences to a minimum.