The summer can be the height of recreational boating season in Texas, particularly during holidays such as the Fourth of July. Police are aware of this and will be on the lookout for people who have had too much to drink. Boating While Intoxicated is just as serious a charge in Texas as Driving While Intoxicated. People accused of BWI must take the same measures to protect themselves as if they were stopped for a DWI.

Defining Boating While Intoxicated

BWI occurs when a person operating any motorized aquatic vehicle is legally intoxicated, which is defined as having a blood-alcohol content of 0.08 or greater. Just as with a DWI, the punishment for those convicted varies, depending on the offender’s history and aggravating factors:

As the summer solstice quickly approaches, set to reach the western hemisphere on June 21 at 12:24 a.m., those in temperate regions look forward to welcoming the warmth of sun-filled longer days. For boaters, in particular, it signifies yet another enjoyable season on the open water but perhaps not without consequences. At last count, more than 88 million U.S. adults participated in recreational boating but owning or operating a recreational watercraft comes with responsibilities. When a boat operator is under the influence of drugs or alcohol, serious personal injuries, fatalities and possible criminal charges can shorten the longest of summer days. 

The U.S. Coast Guard reports that, in 2014, there were 5.2 boating fatalities per 100,000 registered recreational vessels nationwide. Many of these deaths were attributed, at least to some degree, to operators choosing to boat while under the influence of alcohol or illegal substances. To combat these alarming statistics, the partners of Operation Dry Water (ODW) work diligently to promote awareness of the dangers of boating while under the influence or BWI.

Summer Campaign Planned