Tag Archives: drunk boating

Boating under the influence of alcohol or drugs can be deadly. According to statistics compiled by the U.S. Coast Guard, alcohol or drug use was the primary factor in approximately seven percent of all recreational boating accidents in 2010, and drunk boating claimed 126 lives that year. To discourage drunk boating and minimize the injuries and deaths it causes, all 50 states and the federal government have passed laws to criminalize it. Massachusetts has one of the toughest boating under the influence (BUI) laws. Under Massachusetts law, a person is considered to be boating under the influence if his or her blood or breath alcohol concentration is .08 or above. Penalties for BUI include: Up to 30 months in prison and a $1,000 fine Revocation of your motor vehicle license and boat registration for up to one year Up to 10 years in prison and a $5,000 fine if convicted…
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Last September, Winthrop resident Lloyd W. Thompson pleaded not guilty to charges of operating a boat while drunk and negligent homicide. Thompson, an experienced boater and vice commodore of the Winthrop Yacht Club, was allegedly drunk when he crashed a powerboat into a sailboat. One of his passengers, Regina Mosher, sustained a fatal brain injury and died at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. Police said Thompson had glassy eyes, smelled like alcohol and slurred his speech. According to the U.S. Coast Guard, alcohol remains the leading cause of fatal boating accidents, accounting for approximately 19 percent of recreational boating deaths in 2010. That year, drunk boating caused 330 recreational boating accidents that resulted in 126 deaths and 293 injuries. Drinking and boating can be a deadly combination. Alcohol causes: Slowed reaction time Dulled concentration Vision, balance and coordination problems A boater needs to be alert and able to see…
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