Lake Lanier Sees Another Drowning Victim

Lake Lanier, Ga. - According to reports out of Oakwood, another drowned person has been recovered from Lake Lanier this past week. As a Georgia DUI Lawyer, I do a lot of work with serious boating charges as well. There are many different waterways in the state of Georgia and there are many criminal offenses and accidents that occur on our lakes and rivers.

This incident is the fourth death that has occurred on Lake Lanier this summer. Authorities are still investigating the drowning to see if anything criminal occurred. Even though no charges have been filed, I will focus on the offense of BUI in Georgia in today's post, just in case this incident was the result of alleged boating under the influence.

BUI in Georgia

By law, boating under the influence is defined as:

Operating any boat, personal watercraft (jet skis, wave runners), water skis, sailboat, or sailboard while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.  Also, it is illegal for an owner of a boat or personal watercraft to let anyone operate their boat or personal watercraft while they are under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Every person convicted of violating this Code section shall, upon a first or second conviction thereof, be guilty of a misdemeanor; upon a third conviction thereof, be guilty of a high and aggravated misdemeanor; and upon a fourth or subsequent conviction thereof, be guilty of a felony. Georgia BUI Penalties include the following punishments for a first BUI conviction:

• A fine between $300 and $1,000.
• A period of imprisonment of not fewer than ten days nor more than 12 months, which period of imprisonment may, at the sole discretion of the judge.
• At least 40 hours of community service.
• Completion of a DUI Alcohol or Drug Use Risk Reduction Program.
• A clinical evaluation.
• A probation of 12 months less any days during which the person is actually incarcerated.

Practice Note

If you have been arrested for BUI - call our offices today.