Officials with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission made 15 arrests for drunken boaters in the Northwest region over Memorial Day weekend.
Over the course of the three-day holiday weekend, FWC reported removing 15 operators from boats in 16 counties from Escambia to Jackson County for operating under the influence. Nine of those arrests occurred in Pensacola.
As with drunk driving laws on Florida’s highways and public roads, it is unlawful to operate a watercraft with a blood or breath alcohol content of 0.08 or more. Drivers under the age of 21 are not allowed to operate a vessel if there is alcohol in the system.
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“We know that a level-headed ship operator is a safer ship operator,” said Major Robby Creech, FWC’s Northwest Regional Commander. “Our officers are responding to too many accidents that could have been prevented if the operator had just designated an unimpaired driver. Removing dangerous individuals from our waterways is a priority for us.”
FWC says five boaters were arrested in Panama City and one in Tallahassee for BUI.
To report hazardous boating activity, call 888-404-FWCC or text keyword “FWC” to Tip411.
This article originally appeared in Pensacola News Journal: Florida BUI: 9 arrested for drunken boating by FWC in Pensacola
