Chapter 4: The Legal Requirements of Boating
Alcohol and Drugs
Nevada law prohibits anyone from operating under the influence
(OUI). This includes the operation of any powerboat, sailboat,
personal watercraft, water skis, sailboard, or similar device while
under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance.
Alcohol and drugs cause impaired balance, blurred vision, poor
coordination, impaired judgment, and slower reaction times. Alcohol
contributes to about one-third of all fatal boating accidents nationwide. Read
more about the effects and risks of consuming alcohol.
- By operating a vessel on Nevada’s waters, you have given “implied” consent
to evidentiary alcohol testing if an officer has reasonable suspicion. There
is no right to refuse the test.
- Nevada law states that a person is considered to be operating
under the influence if he or she:
- Has a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08% or more or …
- Is under the influence of alcohol and/or a controlled
substance to a degree that renders him or her incapable of
operating the vessel safely.
- Nevada law establishes the following penalties for operating
under the influence.
- Offenders convicted of operating under the influence may
be jailed for up to six months and fined up to $1,000 plus
court costs and testing fees.
- Offenders convicted of operating under the influence and causing
the death of or substantial injury to another person will be
guilty of a felony. Punishment may include jail time of 2–20
years and a fine of $2,000–$5,000.
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Areas of Impairment Due to Blood Alcohol
Concentration (BAC)
Because you can drink faster than your system can burn
off the alcohol, there is an increasing level of alcohol in your blood.
This level is referred to as Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC). |
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