Columbus Drunk Boating Defense

Charged with BUI?

Under Ohio Revised Code §1547.11, “No person shall operate or be in physical control of any vessel underway or shall manipulate any water skis, aquaplane, or similar device on the waters of this state if, at the time of the operation, control, or manipulation, the person is under the influence of alcohol, a drug of abuse, or a combination of them,” or the person has a prohibited concentration of alcohol, a controlled substance, or metabolite of a controlled substance.  This offense is commonly known as Boating Under the Influence (BUI).  The prohibited levels are the same for BUI are the same for OVI/DUI.

When you are facing this type of a charge, it is important to retain the services of a DUI lawyer in Columbus to assist you in protecting your rights.  James D. Owen, LLC has over 25 years of experience helping clients who have been charged with boating while intoxicated and has successfully helped numerous clients to win the charges against them.

While a BUI conviction will not suspend person’s driver’s license, there is a mandatory 1 year period where the person is ordered not to operate any watercraft or to be able to register any watercraft.

However, the BUI conviction does count as a prior conviction for OVI/DUI purposes if a person is subsequently arrested or convicted for OVI/DUI.  BUI also carries a mandatory minimum 3 day jail sentence for a first offense.

BUI Defense in Columbus

A BUI conviction could be a costly mistake if you later are arrested or convicted for DUI.  With this prior conviction on your record, you stand to have much more severe penalties imposed upon you.

Help fight these charges with a skilled and experienced OVI attorney who knows the laws regarding boating and drinking and can provide you with knowledgeable legal representation against your charges.

Contact a Columbus Lawyer if you have been charged with drinking while driving a water vessel.