Many people have heard of driving under the influence, or DUI, but it might surprise some people that they can be arrested for boating under the influence, also called BUI.
During the last weekend of June, Colorado law enforcement agencies and state park officials conducted Operation Dry Water, an annual campaign aimed at reducing the number of boating under the influence incidents. This year, it was reported that the campaign resulted in over 5,000 people being stopped while boating, but only one person was arrested for BUI.
While the number of arrests for boating under the influence was relatively low, many times these campaigns aimed at a specific alleged crime result in many more, and some arrests result in wrongful convictions.
When someone is arrested for a drunk driving related offense in Colorado, they might be wise to speak with an experienced criminal defense attorney. They can help the person understand their rights throughout the legal process and help them protect their reputations.
A boating under the influence charge could have similar effects as a driving under the influence charge, so it is important that these and other criminal charges are taken seriously.
Any criminal charges, no matter how serious they are can harm a person’s reputation and if they are convicted, could result in consequences at a person’s job or in their personal life. A person could lose their job if their driving record is important for their job, and their insurance rates could go up, impacting their personal financial situation.
Source: Denver iJournal, “Operation Dry Water a success in Colorado,” July 15, 2013