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Special OUI Boating Enforcement Held at Local Lakes
Many of the accidents that occur each year on the nation’s lakes and rivers are tied to the abuse of alcohol and drugs. Four-percent of the boating related accidents and 8 percent of boating related fatalities in the year 2000 in Arizona were directly related to alcohol abuse. That translated to 12 deaths last year due to OUI related accidents. Nearly half (44 percent) of Arizona’s 436 alcohol related boating accidents resulted in personal injury. In an effort to stem boating accidents the Arizona Game and Fish Department has been patrolling waters popular with Valley recreationists. Already this summer Game and Fish has held special OUI patrols on Lake Pleasant and Saguaro Lake and an OUI Checkpoint at Roosevelt Lake. Checkpoints differ from patrols in that they are stationary, more like a DUI roadblock, striving to check all passing boaters. Patrols actively seek contact with boaters.
These three efforts have resulted in 134 contacts with boaters and 39 citations issued, with six arrests made for OUI violations. This represents about 5 percent of the total boat operators checked. Thirty percent of boat operators contacted admitted to consuming alcohol although they were not in excess of the legal limit.
These patrols concentrate numerous officers patrolling a specific waterway, making as many contacts as possible in an effort to reach impaired and careless boat operators. Officers will also write citations for other safety violations such as no fire extinguisher or not enough life jackets, but these are not the primary focus of the patrolling officers.
Boating recreationists should be aware that the legal level of intoxication has recently been lowered. A new level of .08 has been set by the recently passed Senate Bill 1089. This bill, which becomes effective Aug. 31, lowers the limit for legally presumed OUI down from .10 BAC.
Boater compliance with the new regulations will be monitored by the Arizona Game and Fish Department as well as other agencies charged with enforcing boating laws. Patrols and checkpoints are planned for most Arizona waters throughout the summer.
