www.iFourWinns.com

Same in our state Ardy - 0.05 blood achohol. They can do random stops on the water here and breathalize you - same as for a car. Have seen it happen at boat ramps and on the water.

It's good though - keeps the dangerous people off the water - no complaints from me in that regard. Like Mike, I am all for safety.

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Alec

2006 Horizon 190
VP 4.3GL/SX, Sunsport

From the Texas Parks and Wildlife website:

Boating Facts
May 2008

•There are approximately 595,000 registered boats in Texas, ranking it 6th in the country.
•Texas has more square miles of inland water than any other state.
•Recreational boating safety is a primary area of responsibility of Texas game wardens. The most common water safety citations are issued are for:
1.Not having enough lifejackets on board the boat.
2.Children younger than 13 not wearing a life jacket.
•All children younger than age 13 must wear a life jacket while in a boat less than 26 feet in length that is underway.
•Game Wardens enforce the Boating While Intoxicated (BWI) law. A person who either appears to be impaired and/or has a blood alcohol level of 0.08 or higher while operating a boat can be arrested for BWI.
•A person arrested for BWI may be jailed for up to 180 days, be fined as much as $2,000 or both. Additionally, the person's drivers' license may be automatically suspended.
•Alcohol plays a role in 50 percent of all boating accidents, according to BOAT US.
•Nearly 85% of boating fatality drowning victims were not wearing a life jacket.
•A typical boating accident fatality involves:
◦An open motorboat;
◦Weekends between the hours of Noon and 7 p.m.;
◦The victim falling overboard; and
◦An operator between 26-50 years of age

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2008 H210SS VP 5.7 Gi/SX
2011 Ford F150 FX4 EB

I just make it really easy. No alcohol on my boat. I know it all has to do with the driver and how impaired/sober he/she is when driving. But, since we have small kids and a lot of our friends that come with us have kids. I want/need others to be in the right frame of mind if an emergency does come up so they can help.

Wisconsin seems fairly liberal with respect to open containers, and focuses more on BUI, although certain areas can impose aditional restrictions. This is from the DNR website:

Wisconsin law prohibits anyone from operating a
motorboat or manipulating water skis or similar
devices while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
• Anyone who operates or attempts to operate a vessel
is deemed to have given consent to an alcohol and/or
drug test.
• It is illegal for a person to operate a motorboat or
use water skis, a surfboard, or other device if he or she
has a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08% or greater
• Anyone under 21 years of age is required to maintain
absolute sobriety while operating a boat
Alcohol and drugs cause impaired balance, blurred vision,
poor coordination, impaired judgment, and slower reaction times.

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2007 Horizon 200
4.3L GXi/ SX 225 HP

Lake Erie is pretty tough along the Ohio coast line. Same rules as most states in which it is the same as a car DUI but with the islands so close the coast guard, rangers, city police, state police all have boats and have jurisdiction in many marinas as well. Give them any reason to stop you and they will. Safest bet is no drinks for the operator. And if I have children on the boat I don't even like it on the boat for passengers except for maybe a few each. I am more comfortable having drinks myself with the boat tied up at dock. The few times we do have a good time on the boat, myself excluded, such as the air show, holidays ect, I always have life jackets out and ready as well as my "oh sh$t" bag filled with every possible life saving item ready. This makes the police happy and makes me more comfortable.

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1999 298 Vista [color=#FF0000]Sold!!!
twin Volvo 5.7GXI

Woody: Pour you a beer, Mr. Peterson?
Norm: Alright, but stop me at one...make that one-thirty