Texas law prohibits operating a watercraft while intoxicated by drugs or alcohol. The law defines "watercraft" as "a vessel, one or more water skis, an aquaplane, or another device used for transporting or carrying a person on water, other than a device propelled only by the current of water." A person can be convicted of boating while intoxicated (BWI), sometimes called boating under the influence (BUI), for operating a vessel while:
In other words, a BUI can be based on blood alcohol concentration or actual impairment.
The penalties for a Texas BWI depend on a number of factors, including whether the operator:
Most first-offense BWIs are class B misdemeanors and carry up to $2,000 in fines and between 72 hours and 180 days in jail. However, if a first offender caused injury or death to another person, the penalties are:
And the penalties are further enhanced if the victim either suffered a traumatic brain injury that resulted in a "persistent vegetative state" or was a peace officer, firefighter, or emergency medical personnel in the line of duty.
A BWI counts as a second offense if the offender has ever been convicted of a BWI or DWI in the past. Generally, a second BWI is a class A misdemeanor and carries up to $4,000 in fines and between 30 days and one year in jail.
If a boater has two prior BWI or DWI offenses, the third BWI will be a third-degree felony. Three-time offenders face between two and ten years in prison and up to $10,000 in fines.
All boaters who operate a watercraft with a BAC of .08% face driver's license suspension. The suspension period is six months or one year, depending on whether the offender had an alcohol- or a drug-related suspension within the past ten years.
BWI law is complicated and constantly changing. If you've been arrested for boating while intoxicated, get in contact with an experienced attorney who handles BWI cases. A qualified attorney can give you the full picture of how the law applies to the facts of your case.