BUI Lawyer in Central Ohio
Boating Under the Influence (BUI). Ohio law makes it illegal for a person to operate (or physically control) a boat (or other vessel) if the person is under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. The law also makes it illegal for a person to operate (or physically control) a boat (or other vessel) with a prohibited concentration of alcohol and/or drugs. This law also applies to skis and similar devices!
Investigation. If a person is suspected of BUI, the law enforcement officer will use the same investigative techniques as in an OVI / DUI case. These techniques include field sobriety tests, breath tests, urine tests, and blood tests.
Penalties. B.U.I. is classified as a first degree misdemeanor, so a person found guilty of B.U.I. faces up to six months in jail, a fine of up to $1,000, and up to five years of community control/probation. Some of these penalties are mandatory. For a first offense, the mandatory jail sentence is at least three days (or a driver intervention program), and the mandatory fine is at least $150. In addition, refusal to consent to a breath/blood/urine test results in ineligibility to operate or register a watercraft for one year.
Penalty Enhancement. If a person has previously been convicted of an O.V.I./D.U.I. or a B.U.I., the minimum mandatory penalties for a BUI conviction are increased. Likewise, if a person has previously been convicted of a B.U.I., the minimum mandatory penalties for an OVI / DUI or a BUI conviction are increased. In addition, repeat violations can result in the person being included in a list of habitual D.U.I. offenders.
Contact the criminal defense law office of Shawn R. Dominy, Attorney at Law, in Powell, Ohio, to schedule a BUI consultation.
