Alabama's Boating Under the Influence (BUI) Laws and Penalties

In addition to DUI laws, Alabama has laws that make operating a boat while under the influence of drugs or alcohol illegal.

This article covers the basics of Alabama's boating under the influence (BUI) laws and the penalties you'll face for a BUI conviction.

Alabama's Boating Under the Influence (BUI) Laws

Alabama law prohibits operating or being in actual physical control of a vessel while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Can You Get a BUI in Alabama on a Boat Without a Motor?

Generally, the term "vessel" includes "[e]very description of watercraft, other than a seaplane, capable of being used as a means of transportation on the water."

So, you can get a BUI on a vessel that's not powered by a motor.

How Does Alabama's BUI Law Define "Under the Influence"?

A person can be convicted of boating under the influence for operating a vessel while:

• under the influence of drugs, alcohol, or any other intoxicating substance "to a degree which renders him or her incapable of safely" operating a vessel, or
• having a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08% or greater.

In other words, you can be convicted based on being actually impaired by drugs or alcohol or having an excessive BAC.

Alabama's Boating Under the Influence (BUI) Penalties

The consequences of an Alabama BUI depend on the circumstances of the case. But generally, a BUI is a class A misdemeanor, and the possible penalties—which are the same as those for an Alabama DUI—are:

• First offense. A first-offense BUI carries up to one year in jail and/or $600 to $2,100 in fines. Convicted boaters typically also face a 90-day boating privilege suspension.
• Second offense. Where a BUI offender has a prior BUI conviction that occurred within five years of the current violation, the second offense carries up to one year in jail and $1,100 to $5,100 in fines. Judges must sentence second offenders to a minimum of five days in jail or at least 30 days of community service. Convicted boaters typically also face a one-year boating privilege suspension.
• Third offense. Where a BUI offender has at least two prior BUI convictions—regardless of how long ago the priors occurred—the third offense carries 60 days to one year in jail and $2,100 to $10,100 in fines. Convicted boaters typically also face a three-year boating privilege suspension.

If a BUI offender had a passenger under 14 years old or a BAC of .15% or greater, the judge must impose at least double the normal penalties for the offense.

Penalties for BUIs Involving Injuries or Deaths in Alabama

BUI offenders who cause accidents where someone suffers "serious physical injury" or is killed can face felony charges. The possible penalties for these types of BUI offenses are:

• BUI involving serious injury. A BUI offender who causes serious physical injury to another can be convicted of "assault in the first degree," a class B felony. The offense generally carries two to 20 year in prison and up to $30,000 in fines.
• BUI involving death. A BUI offender who causes the death of another person can be convicted of "criminally negligent homicide," a class C felony. The offense generally carries one year and one day to 10 years in prison and up to $15,000 in fines.

Strangely, the penalties are more severe for causing serious injuries than they are for causing the death of another person.

Talk to an Alabama DUI Attorney

If you've been arrested for or charged with boating under the influence in Alabama, get in contact with an experienced DUI attorney. The facts of every case are different. A good DUI attorney should be able to explain how the law applies to the facts of your case and help you decide on your best course of action.