by James Lewis

Connect with James

• Facebook
• Twitter
• LinkedIn
• Google+
• YouTube

JIm is a Virginia injury attorney who handles car accidents, medical malpractice, FELA, wrongful death, etc.

6/24/2011
James Lewis
Comments (0)

Boating Under the Influence Targeted by Virginia Conservation Police

Anyone drinking and boating in Virginia during the weekend of June 24-26, 2011, will find themselves targets for VA Department of Game and Inland Fisheries Conservation Police. Over that three-day period, state park and water police will be carrying out Operation Dry Water and ticketing and taking off the water anyone found with a blood alcohol content of 0.08 or higher, as well as anyone impaired by presciption or illegal drugs.

In a press release announcing the crackdown on boating under the influence, or BUI, the agency noted that "penalties may include fines, jail, impoundment of boats and loss of boating privileges. Other consequences could include higher insurance rates and impacts on employment as a BUI conviction is a public record."

Like drunk and drugged driving, BUI exacts a high toll in injuries caused and lives cut short. In fact, an official U.S. Coast Guard report published in 2006 states that "data for the period 2002-2003 suggests that at least 23 percent of fatalities and 9 percent of nonfatal injuries resulted from accidents in which alcohol/drugs was a contributing factor" in the boating and personal water craft accidents.

My Virginia personal injury attorney colleagues and I have written about boating and PWC safety many times. In each such blog post and article, we have stressed the importance of staying sober on the water. If those reminders have not been enough to discourage BUI, maybe this law enforcement initiative will drive home the message that alcohol, drugs and boats do not mix.

EJL

Category: Mass Transit (Airline, Train, Bus)

Labels: boating safety boating under the influence BUI Conservation Police drinking and boating drunk and drugged driving lakes and rivers Lewis Operation Dry Water personal watercraft U.S. Coast Guard Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries Virginia personal injury attorney

About the Editors: Shapiro, Lewis & Appleton is a Viriginia injury law firm whose attorneys focus on personal injury and accident law and have experience handling cases for victims of mass transit accidents such as airplane, train and bus crashes. In fact, our law firm published a free consumer safety guide on what to do if you are hurt in a plane wreck.

We have offices in Virginia Beach and Hampton, Virginia but we're ready to come to you anywhere in VA including Suffolk, Portsmouth, Chesapeake, Newport News and Norfolk, VA, if you've been seriously hurt by someone else's carelessness.

Rick Shapiro and James Lewis have been included among the Best Lawyers in America since 2008, and have been named Virginia Super Lawyers for Personal Injury Law since 2010, an honor fewer than 5 percent of lawyers receive.

Shapiro and Lewis have also been selected for inclusion in the National Million Dollar Advocates Forum since 2009. In addition, ours was the first injury law firm in Virginia to join Primerus, a select group of highly ethical and respected law firms. Our VA mass transit injury law firm has the highest rating of AV from Martindale-Hubbell, a national lawyer ranking organization, which means we have a reputation for preeminent legal skill.

While not every injury case meets our criteria, we offer free initial confidential injury case consultations. Call us toll free at (800) 752-0042. If you cannot get through due to high call volume, please leave a voicemail so we can respond directly to you.

Post a comment

Post a Comment to "Boating Under the Influence Targeted by Virginia Conservation Police"