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

In addition to DUI laws that prohibit driving a car or truck while intoxicated, Ohio has laws that make it illegal to operate a boat while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. This article covers Ohio's boating under the influence (BUI) laws and the penalties you'll face for a BUI conviction.

Ohio's Boating Under the Influence (BUI) Law

Ohio law prohibits operating or being in physical control of a vessel while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. A person can be convicted of boating under the influence (BUI) for operating a vessel while:

• impaired by drugs, alcohol, or a combination of the two to an extent that "it adversely affected and appreciably impaired the defendant's actions, reaction, or mental processes"
• having a blood or breath alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08% or greater, or
• having a certain concentration of amphetamine, cocaine, heroin, LSD, marijuana, methamphetamine, or PCP in the body.

In other words, you can get a BUI based on actual impairment or the concentration of drugs or alcohol in your system.

Ohio's BUI Law Applies Only to Vessels That Are Underway

Ohio's BUI law comes into play when a boater is under the influence and the vessel is not securely affixed to a dock, shore, or permanent structure or anchored in a designated anchorage area or boat camping area.

Ohio's BUI Law Isn't Limited to Motorboats

Ohio's BUI law doesn't say it's only applicable to motorboats. So, a boater could theoretically get a BUI on a sailboat or another type of non-motorized vessel

Ohio's Boating Under the Influence (BUI) Penalties

The consequences of an Ohio BUI generally depend on whether the offender has prior BUI or OVI (operating a vehicle impaired) convictions. BUIs are first-degree misdemeanors with the following penalties:

• First offense. A first BUI carries three to 180 days in jail and $150 to $1,000 in fines. Judges have the option of suspending the three-day minimum sentence (or part thereof) by placing the offender under a "community control sanction" and requiring the offender to complete a "drivers' intervention program."
• Second offense. Where a BUI offender has a prior BUI or OVI conviction that occurred within six years of the current violation, the second offense will carry ten to 180 days in jail and $150 to $1,000 in fines. Judges have the option of ordering second offenders to attend a drivers' intervention program.
• Third offense. Where a BUI offender has at least two prior BUI or OVI convictions that occurred within six years of the current violation, the third or subsequent offense will carry 30 days to one year in jail and $150 to $1,000 in fines. Judges have the option of ordering third offenders to attend a drivers' intervention program.

A judge might also require a BUI offender to complete a boating safety course.

Talk to an Attorney

If you've been arrested for or charged with boating under the influence in Ohio, get in contact with an experienced OVI/BUI attorney. The facts of every case are different. A good 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.