Boating Under The Infl uence_____________________
!
WARNING
FEDERAL LAWS PROHIBIT OPERATING A VESSEL UNDER
THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL OR DRUGS. THESE LAWS ARE
VIGOROUSLY ENFORCED BY LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL
AGENCIES.
Under The Infl uence Warning
Operating a vessel while intoxicated became a specifi c federal offence
effective in 1988. The ruling set federal standards for determining
when an individual is intoxicated. If the blood alcohol content (BAC)
is .10 (.08 in some states) or higher for operators of recreational vessels
being used for pleasure are subject to a civil penalty up to $1,000
or criminal penalty up to $5,000, one year imprisonment, or some
combinations thereof. In some states the fi nes and imprisonment
may increase signifi cantly. Understand the rules regarding driving
under the infl uence in the state your boat will operate in.
The effects of alcohol and drugs account for the highest single cause
of marine accidents and deaths. Most deaths in boating accidents
occur when someone falls into the water. Balance is one of the fi rst
skills lost when drinking alcohol, or under the infl uence of drugs.
The problem arises out of not knowing your balance is restricted.
Overall, vision is reduced by alcohol, especially at night, along with
double or blurred vision. Peripheral vision is lessened which restricts
seeing vessels or objects. Also, color awareness decreases especially
with red and green, which happens to be the colors of boat navigation
lights, buoys, and channel markers.
1-36
Chapter 1
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