A Rundown of Boating Under the Influence Penalties in Georgia

BUI in Georgia has many similarities to DUI in Georgia. As a Georgia DUI Lawyer, I handle many BUI charges because of the amount of lakes and bodies of water we have in our state. 

The Boat Safety Act of Georgia lays down the law behind boating under the influence in Georgia. The Act prohibits anyone from operating a boat, jet ski, wave runner, sailboat, or sailboard while under the influence of either drugs or alcohol. 

The legal limit for boating is the same as the legal limit for driving a vehicle in Georgia which is a BAC of .08. As of 2013, there are harsher penalties for both first-time offenders and repeat offenders, and in my post today, I would like to outline the penalties faced if convicted of BUI.

Georgia BUI Penalties

The Georgia BUI Penalties based on number of convictions is as follows.

First Conviction of BUI in Georgia: Misdemeanor

• Fine between $300 to $1,000 
• Jail time between 10 days and 12 months 
• 40 hours of community service
• DUI Alcohol or Drug Use Reduction Program
• Clinical Drug and Alcohol Evaluation 
• Probation up to 12 months

Second Conviction of BUI in Georgia: Misdemeanor 

• Fine between $600 to $1,000 
• Jail time between 90 days and 12 months 
• 30 days of community service
• DUI Alcohol or Drug Use Reduction Program
• Clinical Drug and Alcohol Evaluation 
• Probation up to 12 months

Third Conviction of BUI in Georgia: High and Aggravated Misdemeanor 

• Fine between $1,000 to $5,000
• Jail time between 120 days and 12 months 
• 30 days of community service
• DUI Alcohol or Drug Use Reduction Program
• Clinical Drug and Alcohol Evaluation 
• Substance Abuse Treatment Program
• Probation up to 12 months

Fourth or Subsequent Conviction of BUI in Georgia: Felony

• Fine between $1,000 to $5,000
• Prison time between 1 year and 5 years
• 60 days of community service
• DUI Alcohol or Drug Use Reduction Program
• Clinical Drug and Alcohol Evaluation 
• Substance Abuse Treatment Program
• Probation up to 5 years minus any time for actual imprisonment

Practice Note

I tend to write more about BUI during the summer months because that's when the majority of Georgians are on the water. The summer holiday is a great time to relax and take it easy on the lake - but it must be done safely. 

As Georgia BUI Lawyers, we hope that everyone operates his or her vessel safely. However, everyone makes mistakes, and on top of that, wrongful accusations happen as well. If you or a loved on has been charged with a BUI in Georgia, contact our offices today.