(Photo: KFOR-TV-DT) |
OKLAHOMA CITY -- A bill to crack down on boating and drinking took a step towards becoming law Thursday. The Oklahoma Senate Appropriations Committee approved legislation lowering the legal alcohol limit from .10 to .08.
Senator Bill Brown says drinking and driving in a boat is every bit as dangerous as in a car. That's why he wanted to add some teeth to boating laws.
We talked to some lake goers at Arcadia and Edmond officers who think the lower limit could reduce accidents.
Officer James Hamm said, "You need to have someone to operate the vessel who's not drinking. Maybe it will discourage people to take one or two less drinks."
Dustin Orona said, "A lot of times when we fish out here, I don't know what's going on with the other boats, but they can get carried away with their fishing or skiing. And, you never know if they're over the limit."
Officer Hamm says there's not a big difference between a .08 and .10. That's why he would like the punishment to be more severe. The current punishment is a $544 fine.
Officer Hamm believes offenders should lose their boat registration for a year.
Copyright 2009 KFOR-TV-DT. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Senator Bill Brown says drinking and driving in a boat is every bit as dangerous as in a car. That's why he wanted to add some teeth to boating laws.
We talked to some lake goers at Arcadia and Edmond officers who think the lower limit could reduce accidents.
Officer James Hamm said, "You need to have someone to operate the vessel who's not drinking. Maybe it will discourage people to take one or two less drinks."
Dustin Orona said, "A lot of times when we fish out here, I don't know what's going on with the other boats, but they can get carried away with their fishing or skiing. And, you never know if they're over the limit."
Officer Hamm says there's not a big difference between a .08 and .10. That's why he would like the punishment to be more severe. The current punishment is a $544 fine.
Officer Hamm believes offenders should lose their boat registration for a year.
Copyright 2009 KFOR-TV-DT. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
