ARRIVE ALIVE

BOATERS NEED DESIGNATED DRIVERS, TOO!

As the weather begins to improve, more boaters will be on the water and the parties, fishing tournaments and special events will begin. Spring and summer in South Florida are a great time to own a boat and there are numerous wonderful opportunities to have fun on the water. There is also the temptation to have a few beers (or whatever) to cool off after a day in the sun. Go for it...but don’t forget to have a “Designated Boater” on board to get you home safely at the end of the day. Don’t Drink and Drive isn’t just for cars!

The laws are just as specific about operating a vessel under the influence as they are for driving a motor vehicle. It’s illegal and it’s dangerous. You are considered BUI (Boating While Intoxicated) if your blood alcohol content is .08 or above. 3 convictions in 5 years, land and water combined, becomes a felony. Boaters 17 years old or younger may have NO measurable alcohol in their systems AT ALL. They can lose their vehicle drivers license.

Boating accidents can happen just as easily as car wrecks (maybe even more so) due to the ever changing conditions of the ocean and waterway and with the same deadly results. There are a lot of variables on the water that don’t apply to an accident on the highway. On the water, the entire scene of the accident continues to move long after the crash and, depending upon your location, help can take much longer to arrive. There’s also the not so small matter of finding you to begin with! In ANY emergency, one of the main ingredients for prompt assistance is “Location, Location, Location”.

There are some terrific special events going on this time of year that can be enjoyed by the whole family from your boat. By keeping a few things in mind when you leave the dock, you can make your outing safer and more enjoyable for yourself, your passengers and other boaters. If you’re going to have a few drinks while you’re there, have a Designated Boater. Also...watch out for “the other guy”! Any of you who have ever attended a fireworks show by boat know what it’s like when the show’s over and everyone heads for home at the same time (many at full throttle). Many of them have been drinking and their judgement, not to mention their seamanship skills, are more than a little bit impaired. About 10 years ago, a boating collision after one of the West Palm Beach boat parades cost several members of one family their lives when a drunken boater, traveling full speed up the waterway on the wrong side of the channel, collided with a boat carrying a family simply out to enjoy an evening on the water. The tragedy could have been avoided had there been a Designated Boater running his vessel. Law enforcement increases its presences at high profile events like Sun Fest, 4th on Flagler. A lot of eyes are looking for drunk boaters with zero tolerance. USCG, FWC, Federal, County and City Police Marine Units.

Instead of trying to be the first one to heave anchor and beat everyone back to the ramp, why not save dessert or some snacks for AFTER the show, stay “on the hook” and enjoy being out on your boat for another ? hour or so. Wait until some of the crowd clears. It won’t take long and you’d be AMAZED at how much easier, safer and more relaxing your day or evening will be. Watch out for other boaters and, if you see someone creating a dangerous situation, call for the nearest Law Enforcement vessel on the water.

Recreational boating should be fun and relaxing and we want everyone to get back to their docks or boat ramps safely. A Designated Boater can help make that happen. If you plan on taking a few friends out for a day in the sun, bring along some soft drinks for someone who will stay sober and can take the helm when it’s time to head back to the dock. If you’ve been drinking and you don’t have a Designated Boater, PLEASE don’t take a chance with your own safety or somebody else’s. Stay at anchor until you can find a friend to come drive the boat back to the dock or call one of the commercial assistance towing companies. It may cost you a few dollars since most towing memberships don’t cover towing due to intoxicated operators but, in the end, the cost of calling someone to get you or calling a tow service pales in comparison to getting arrested or killing someone or yourself.

And one other thing...make sure your Designated Boaters know how to run the boat! Show them where you keep your PFD’s (life jackets) and safety gear and familiarize them with whatever they need to know about your particular vessel so they can get everyone home safely.

For more information about boating safety and state boating laws, please visit The Florida Fish & Wildlife Commission web site at HYPERLINK "http://www.myfwc.com" www.myfwc.com and click on “Boating”.

Have a Safe & Happy Boating Season!

Many thanks to our friends at Coast Guard Station Lake Worth Inlet and Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission for their contributions to this article.

Some other facts about BUI When arrested for BUI you will spend a minimun of 8 hours in jail in most jusridictions. The average cost of defending yourself in court is $3,500.00. If found guilty the court cost, fines and penalties are considerable. If found guilty, the court can impound your vessel Require you to attend many hours of Alcohol Counseling Attend victim impact meetings (you stand before the relatives of people that were killed by drunks and see how not only the victims lives are affected) Perform community service Place you on probation for a period of time. (Probation meaning, if you violate any of the conditions of probation like drinking, operating a vessel or not attend any of the mandated conditions of the guilty verdict you can be jailed up to a year. When applying for a lot of jobs, they require you to list on the application, have you ever been convicted of a crime. That might be the deciding factor of you getting the job or someone else.