On Sat, 11 Jul 2009 04:46:30 -0500, thunder
wrote:

On Fri, 10 Jul 2009 17:56:01 -0500, Vic Smith wrote:


All sounds reasonable. I wonder how other states handle it.

In New Jersey, that's been the law for roughly 10 years. Don't quote me
on the penalties, but I believe if you are convicted for a first offense
BUI, you loose your boating operator's license for a year, and your
automobile driver's license for either 3 months, or a year, depending on
your Blood Alcohol Level. Fines, and the big expense, insurance rates,
are additional. New Jersey has been known to set up checkpoints on the
water and at the ramps, and have a special "field sobriety" test for
boaters.

In CT, it's not quite as drastic.

The penalty for a first violation may be: a fine between $500 and
$1000. One year suspension of boating privileges, 6 months (at least
48 hours which cannot be suspended) in jail or suspended plus
probation requiring 100 hours community service.

The penalty for a second violation within ten years may be: a fine
between $1000 and $4000, three years suspension of boating privileges,
two years (at least 120 days) in jail and probation requiring 100
hours community service.

The penalty for a third and subsequent violations within 10 years may
be: a fine between $2000 and $8000, suspension of boating privileges
for life, three years (at least 1 year) in jail and probation
requiring 100 hours of community service.

Penalties for refusal to submit to a chemical test are more
substantial than failing the test.

These pretty much mirror the motor vehicle laws as far as penalties,
fine and what not with the exception that motor vehicle licenses
aren't lost in combination with the boater's "priviledges".

The problem is, once again, enforcement. You can register a boat or a
car or a truck or a motorcycle - any vehicle in CT without having a
driver's license. And unless you're stopped by DEM or locals with a
water patrol, the chances of them asking for your boating certificate
is about zip.