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Safety On Board
BOATING UNDER THE INFLUENCE
FEDERAL LAWS PROHIBIT OPERATING A VESSEL
UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL OR DRUGS.
THESE LAWS ARE VIGOROUSLY ENFORCED
BY ALL ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES.
Operating a vessel while intoxicated became a specifi c federal offense
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 only for pleasure are subject to a civil penalty up to $1,000 or
criminal penalty up to $5,000, one year imprisonment or both. In some
states the fi nes and imprisonment may increase signifi cantly.
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 things
you lose 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 on the side. Also, color awareness decreases
especially with red and green which happen to be the colors of boat
navigation lights, buoys, and channel markers.
Alcohol will greatly increase your heat loss so it increases the effects
of hypothermia. Finally, your ability to make correct judgements in
emergency situations is greatly reduced. Alcohol takes away the brains
ability to process information quickly and delays a persons reaction
time. Don’t drink and drive!
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