With the Labor Day holiday weekend quickly approaching, many in Colorado are looking forward to their last summer trip to area lakes and camping sites. Like other summer holidays, the potential for drunk driving is relatively high. Because of this, law enforcement agencies will be out in force to keep drunk drivers off the road.
However, not all intoxicated drivers are behind the wheel of a car or truck. Some may be on the water and at the helm of a boat or riding a jet ski. Of course, the law in Colorado regarding drunk driving carries over from the road to the water. Anyone operating watercraft while having a blood alcohol content of .08 or above can be charged with a crime.
Which begs the question, which is more severe, a DUI or BUI? According to a story produced by KUSA 9 News, the penalities are relatively the same. Both can result in an offending driver (or operator) paying fines, requiring alcohol assessments, and potentially serving jail time, depending on the severity of the crime. A DUI charge may result in a driver losing his or her license for a specified period of time, but it would not affect their legal right to operate a boat. Likewise, a BUI may lead to a person losing their boating privileges, but it may not affect their driver’s license.
Either way, a person accused of operating watercraft or an automobile has the right to challenge the evidence presented against them. If you have questions about an alcohol related charge, an experienced criminal defense attorney can help.
Source: KUSA.com, DUI vs. BUI, penalties about the same in Colorado, July 29, 2013