Boating and Drinking--In Virginia, It is the Same as Drinking and Driving

Boating or driving while intoxicated carry the same penalties in Virginia.

2012-09-28

September 28, 2012 (Press-News.org) During this summer, the Virginia State Police (VSP) and the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF) Conservation Police worked on a public awareness campaign to remind boaters that if they are intoxicated and boating, they can be caught and charged with Boating under the Influence (BUI), with the same penalties as driving under the influence (DUI).

The campaign notes that 57 percent of fatal boating accidents in 2011 resulted from intoxicated boaters. The video produced by the state police and the conservation police makes their case explicit, when a trooper states, "Drinking and boating is the same as drinking and driving."

Think Twice before Opening a "Cool One" on the lake

While record-setting warm weather this summer seems like the perfect excuse for having a cold drink while enjoying the waters of Virginia's lakes and waterway, the penalties for drinking and boating are the same as those for a DUI charge.

Virginia advertises it is "Tough" on drinking and driving, with some of the most severe penalties in the nation. First time offenders are required to have an ignition interlock device installed on the car they drive.

This device forces the driver to provide a breath sample every time they drive they start their car and additional breath samples at random intervals was they drive. These devices are expensive to install and require a monthly maintenance fee for their operation.

Because BUI and DUI are the same offense, if you have had a prior DUI and BUI conviction will be treated as a second offense, and penalties increase. You will have to install interlocks on every vehicle you own.

If you violate any of the conditions of restricted driving privileges, you could have your vehicle impounded for 90 days.

Other expenses will include reporting to an Alcohol Safety Action Program (ASAP). This program determines the "intervention services" that are most appropriate for your situation. This is done are your expense and demands a minimum of 20 hours of classroom programs.

There are numerous additional penalties depending on your age and prior convictions. If you have been charged with driving or boating under the influence, you should discuss the charges with DUI attorney, who can advise you of any available defenses, and can examine your arrest and testing to determine if any constitutional, technical or procedural errors may have occurred.

Article provided by Raj Dua
Visit us at www.fairfaxcriminalattorney.com

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

Are Property Owners Responsible for New York City Sidewalk Injuries?

2012-09-28

This August, concrete rained down onto the sidewalks around Grand Central Terminal in New York City, miraculously harming no one. However, this incident highlights the dangers of the city's sidewalks that New York personal injury lawyers regularly hear about from their injured clients. Fortunately, there is legal recourse for someone injured while walking the streets of New York. Raining Concrete at Grand Central Terminal Last month, a tractor-trailer truck struck the side of New York's Grand Central Terminal, causing large chunks of concrete and part of a railing ...

Commercial Truck Driving While Drunk Can Spell Disaster for Others on the Road

2012-09-28

When semi trucks are involved in crashes, people can die. Most of the people that die are in smaller passenger vehicles traveling alongside the 18-wheelers. If semi truck drivers are intoxicated behind the wheel, the potential for harm is even greater. Data compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) shows that three percent of more than 10,000 fatal alcohol-related crashes in 2010 (the most recent year such data was available) were caused by commercial vehicle drivers. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) implemented special, ...

New Commercial Trucking Rules May Make American Roads Safer

2012-09-28

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, or FMCSA, announced at the end of August that it will implement several provisions of its ambitious strategic plan, Moving Ahead for Progress in 21st Century, or MAP-21. The FMCSA's goal is to develop 29 new rules in the next 27 months. These rules will likely improve safety for all road users over the next few years. Rule Changes to Take Place by October 2012 In an aggressive move, by this October, the FMCSA will change its rules on how it reprimands motor carriers that are found to be immediately dangerous to other ...

How to Enforce Texting Laws?

2012-09-28

Texting and driving is dangerous. Everyone from U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood to the local police department is shouting from the rooftops the dangers posed by texting and driving. Nevertheless, texting is just the most recent of the laundry list of items that can distract a driver and cause a car crash. Changing radio stations, brushing one's hair, eating a hamburger from a drive-through, glancing at papers on the passenger's seat, programming your GPS, the list goes on and on. And in Georgia, all of them are illegal if they cause driver distraction, ...

The U.S. is Behind on Reviewing Suspended Deportation Cases

2012-09-28

In August 2011, the Obama Administration announced it would review the cases of around 300,000 undocumented immigrants scheduled for deportation. In an attempt to utilize its resources more efficiently, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is focusing on deporting undocumented individuals with criminal records who are national security risks. In fiscal 2011, the United States deported nearly 400,000 undocumented individuals but only about 55 percent had criminal records. Though expectations were high, immigration prosecutors had only reviewed about nine percent ...

Special Considerations When Older Couples Divorce

2012-09-28

"Baby boomer divorce." "Gray divorce." "Senior-citizen divorce." "Elder divorce." Regardless of what you call it, there is an unmistakable fact about the so-called "greatest generation": older Americans are getting a lot of divorces. According to Bowling Green State University's National Center for Family & Marriage Research, the divorce rate of those 50 and older have more than doubled since 1990. Many of those same people get remarried, something which in itself, ironically, can foreshadow more divorce. The divorce ...

Infants at Higher Risk for Bacterial Meningitis

2012-09-28

Bacterial meningitis is a serious illness. Each year in the United States it kills roughly 500 people and threatens the lives of 3,600 more. While people of any age are at risk, infants have a higher risk of contracting bacterial meningitis than all other age groups. What Causes Bacterial Meningitis in Infants? Bacterial meningitis is an inflammation of the membranes covering the spinal cord and the brain (the meninges) caused by the presence of bacteria. The bacteria originate in some other part of the body, are spread by the bloodstream to the fluid around the spinal ...

"Give Me 3" Bill Passes the State Assembly

2012-09-28

Riding bicycles is a large part of the appeal and culture of Southern California. While thousands of riders make use of trails and special bike paths in parks, many riders take to bike lanes on city streets. With such widespread interest, motorists must be mindful of how vulnerable bicyclists are while riding in traffic. This is especially important as cars pass bicyclists and cross into bike lanes while making turns. In fact, many bicyclist fatalities in California are caused when drivers fail to yield to riders or give them proper space to maneuver. The State Assembly ...

Car Accidents: What to Do and Not to Do

2012-09-28

Car accidents are scary. They can put your life in chaos, result in a mountain of medical bills, take lives and cause vast amounts of stress. When an accident happens, it is important to take steps to both ensure your physical recovery and protect your legal rights. What to Do in Case of an Accident Immediately after an accident, take a moment to check for injuries. If you or a loved one has been hurt, emergency authorities should be notified immediately so that treatment can begin. Once that has been done, though, it is important to assess the property damage and ...

How a Texas DWI/DUI Could Affect Your Commercial Driver's License

2012-09-28

If the driver of a sedan is pulled over and charged with DWI, it can cause some challenges. The inconvenience of a suspended license, the possibility of jail time, as well as the financial hit caused by hefty fines, the court fees and the increased insurance premiums are all significant consequences that no one wants to face. If the driver of a semi truck or other commercial driver's license holder is convicted of DUI, though, the penalties are even steeper. Commercial License DWI/DUI The larger the vehicle, the more possibility for damage in the event of an accident. ...

Identification of chemical constituents and blood-absorbed components of Shenqi Fuzheng extract based on UPLC-triple-TOF/MS technology

Emergency department physicians vary widely in their likelihood of hospitalizing a patient, even within the same facility

New clinical practice guideline on the process for diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease or a related form of cognitive impairment or dementia

[Press-News.org] Boating and Drinking--In Virginia, It is the Same as Drinking and Driving
Boating or driving while intoxicated carry the same penalties in Virginia.

Boating and Drinking--In Virginia, It is the Same as Drinking and Driving

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES: