DUIBoating While Drunk
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - Beginning Sunday, operating a boat while drunk will get you the same stiff penalties as an arrest for drunken driving.
Supporters of the bill passed by the Legislature in June and signed into law in July by Gov. George Pataki note that 28 percent of fatal boating accidents involved alcohol in 2004, the latest year for which statistics are available.
"Boating while intoxicated is at least as dangerous as driving while intoxicated because the sun increases the effects of alcohol," stated Denna Cohen, the president of Mothers Against Drunk Driving on Long Island.
Under the new law, a first conviction for boating while intoxicated would be a misdemeanor with a sentence of up to a year in jail, instead of 90 days in years past. The fine would also increase to a maximum of $1,000 from $500.
A second conviction in 10 years would be a Class E felony, carrying up to four years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000. A third conviction in 10 years would be a Class D felony with a sentence of up to seven years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
The maximum fine for boating while ability impaired will rise to $500 from $350. A second conviction in five years would carry a fine of up to $750 and 30 days in jail.
"Boating while intoxicated is not a harmless activity and now it will be treated in the serious manner it needs to be," said Sen. John Flanagan, a Long Island Republican who co-sponsored the bill.
"This law will give marine law enforcement and prosecutors the necessary tools to maintain an aggressive posture against BWI and BWAI violators," said Assemblyman Thomas DiNapoli, a Nassau County Democrat who also sponsored the measure.
Source: http://www.newsday.com
Tags:
Filed in DUI Related | New York DUI | Permalink | Comments (5)
http://www.thefreemansjournal.com/2008/08/new-patrol-boat-arrives-at-county.html
