PRACTICE AREAS

FIGHTING YOUR BOATING UNDER THE INFLUENCE CHARGE

If you have been charged with Boating Under the Influence (BUI) it is important to consult an experienced Florida criminal defense attorney immediately. Florida laws against boating while impaired by alcohol or other drugs are serious and just as stringent as those for driving a motor vehicle while impaired. At Brooks, LeBoeuf, Foster & Gwartney  we know the challenges and dilemmas that you will face as you confront these charges. With years of experience our BUI attorneys are ready to protect your rights and interests throughout every stage of your case.

UNDERSTANDING BUI CHARGES IN FL

Under Florida law, BUI arrests can occur when your BAC is 0.08% or higher or if law enforcement believes that your normal faculties are impaired due to intoxication. For any person under 21 years of age, the legal limit is 0.02%.
A law enforcement officer is entitled to stop any vessel for the purpose of checking for compliance with boating safety regulations and can require that any boat deemed as unsafe or a hazard to public safety be removed from the water.

On the water law enforcement agencies include:

• The Coast Guard
• Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers
• Sheriff’s Deputies
• Any other law enforcement officer authorized to enforce boating laws

On the water law enforcement has the right to conduct a stop of any boat for the purpose of investigating whether the operator of the vessel is under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol. They also have the authority to ask the operator of the boat to complete sobriety exercises, breathalyzer tests, or chemical tests of blood or urine.