Senator calls for tougher boating laws

New York State Sen. Charles Fuschillo Jr., a Republican from Merrick, is introducing new boating safety legislation that, if passed, would raise the penalties for boating under the influence and require safety training for anyone who operates a boat.

Joining the senator at a news conference at the Wantagh County Park marina to announce the proposals were Michelle Mannino, whose husband, Christopher, was killed by another boater accused of boating while intoxicated, Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano, state Assemblyman David McDonough and officials from the county’s Marine Bureau.

“Boats operated by intoxicated individuals are as dangerous a weapon as cars driven by drunk drivers. Our laws do not reflect that right now, and that must change,” said Fuschillo, who is chairman of the Senate’s Transportation Committee. “Stronger BUI laws will make people think twice before operating a boat under the influence, help remove intoxicated boat operators from the waterways and ensure that they face tougher penalties for endangering the lives of others.”

New York has some of the nation’s toughest driving under the influence laws, but its BUI laws have not kept pace, according to Fuschillo. As a result, BUI offenders do not face the same strong penalties that they would if they were driving a car while drunk.

Fuschillo’s legislation would:

· Allow intoxicated boaters to face class E felony charges if they had a child on the boat, just as they would if they were driving drunk in a car.

· Create the charge of aggravated BUI for boaters with a BAC of .18 or higher, as there currently is for driving under the influence.

· Create mandatory boating privilege suspensions for DUI offenders, including:

• DWAI - mandatory 90-day suspension of boating privileges.

• DWI - mandatory six-month suspension of boating privileges.

• Multiple DWIs in 10 years - mandatory one-year suspension of boating privileges.

• Require a mandatory driver’s license suspension for BUI offenders, including:

• BWAI - mandatory 45-day driver’s license suspension.

• BWI - mandatory 90-day driver’s license suspension.

• BWI with a child onboard - mandatory 180-day driver’s license suspension.