Move afoot to strengthen BUI law

ATLANTA - A lower blood alcohol level for boating under the influence is under consideration in the General Assembly.

Lt. Col. Jeff Weaver with the state Department of Natural Resources says a bill standardizing the BUI level with the DUI level would be a good thing because piloting a boat requires your full attention.

"There's no designated lane of travel and no lines to stay in, so you really have to be observant," Col. Weaver told the Georgia News Network, adding there are so many distractions when you are on the water. "(You have) a lot of heat, sun, waves, noise. You're outside, a lot of things to divide your attention."

The bill would make it illegal to pilot a boat with a blood alcohol level over 0.08 percent - the same as the driving under the influence level. Right now on Georgia's waterways it's still at .10 percent.

"I think just that standardization would make it easier to enforce and easier to educate the public," Col. Weaver said.

Weaver said BUIs are a major problem on the water in Georgia. "We do come across this violation more than we would like," he said.

Boating under the influence is a big concern of the law enforcement officers who patrol bodies of water such as Lake Lanier.

AccessNorthGa.com records show that last Labor Day, two BUI cases were made on Lanier, six statewide. On July 4, four BUI charges were filed against Lanier boaters, six statewide.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2011/3/236618