Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) Limits

Operators of Recreational Watercraft

Laws addressing blood alcohol concentration limits applicable to operators of recreational watercraft.

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Changes Over Time: Operators of Recreational Watercraft

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Changes Over Time for Operators of Recreational Watercraft
Jurisdiction Date Range BAC Limit Per Se Citations
Alabama (1516)
1/1/1998 - 12/31/20010.10Yes
Alabama (1459)
1/1/2002 - 1/1/20200.08Yes3 Citations
Alaska (1515)
1/1/1998 - 8/31/20010.10Yes
Alaska (1460)
9/1/2001 - 1/1/20200.08Yes2 Citations
Arizona (1518)
1/1/1998 - 8/30/20010.10Yes
Arizona (1461)
8/31/2001 - 1/1/20200.08Yes2 Citations
Arkansas (1517)
1/1/1998 - 8/12/20010.10Yes
Arkansas (1508)
8/13/2001 - 1/1/20200.08Yes4 Citations
Colorado (1520)
1/1/1998 - 8/4/20080.10Yes1 Citations
Colorado (1463)
8/5/2008 - 1/1/20200.08Yes2 Citations
Connecticut (1521)
1/1/1998 - 9/30/20030.10Yes
Connecticut (1464)
10/1/2003 - 1/1/20200.08Yes2 Citations
Delaware (1523)
1/1/1998 - 7/25/20060.10Yes1 Citations
Delaware (1466)
7/26/2006 - 1/1/20200.08Yes2 Citations
Georgia (1525)
1/1/1998 - 5/14/20130.10Yes1 Citations
Georgia (1468)
5/15/2013 - 1/1/20200.08Yes2 Citations
Indiana (1530)
1/1/1998 - 6/30/20010.10Yes
Indiana (1472)
7/1/2001 - 1/1/20200.08Yes2 Citations
Iowa (1527)
1/1/1998 - 6/30/20000.00 
Iowa (1473)
7/1/2000 - 6/30/20110.10Yes1 Citations
Iowa (1513)
7/1/2011 - 1/1/20200.08Yes2 Citations
Kentucky (1532)
1/1/1998 - 3/2/19980.00 
Kentucky (1476)
3/3/1998 - 9/30/20000.10Yes1 Citations
Kentucky (1475)
10/1/2000 - 1/1/20200.08Yes3 Citations
Louisiana (1533)
1/1/1998 - 9/29/20030.10Yes
Louisiana (1477)
9/30/2003 - 1/1/20200.08Yes2 Citations
Maryland (1535)
1/1/1998 - 9/30/19990.07 1 Citations
Maryland (1480)

Between October 1, 1999 and September 29, 2001, a BAC of 0.07 was prima facie evidence of impairment and/or driving under the influence of alcohol, while a BAC of 0.10 was prima facie evidence of operating a vessel while intoxicated.

10/1/1999 - 9/29/20010.10 
Maryland (1479)

Beginning September 30, 2001, a BAC of 0.07 is prima facie evidence of driving while impaired by alcohol, while a BAC of 0.08 is prima facie evidence of operating a vessel while under the influence of alcohol.

9/30/2001 - 1/1/20200.08 4 Citations
Massachusetts (1534)
1/1/1998 - 6/29/20030.08 
Massachusetts (1481)
6/30/2003 - 1/1/20200.08Yes2 Citations
Michigan (1537)
1/1/1998 - 3/30/20150.10Yes1 Citations
Michigan (1510)
3/31/2015 - 1/1/20200.08Yes2 Citations
Minnesota (1538)
1/1/1998 - 7/31/20050.10Yes1 Citations
Minnesota (1482)
8/1/2005 - 1/1/20200.08Yes3 Citations
Mississippi (1540)
1/1/1998 - 6/30/20100.10Yes1 Citations
Mississippi (1483)
7/1/2010 - 1/1/20200.08Yes2 Citations
Missouri (1539)
1/1/1998 - 8/27/20080.10Yes1 Citations
Missouri (1512)
8/28/2008 - 1/1/20200.08Yes3 Citations
Montana (1541)
1/1/1998 - 4/14/20030.10 2 Citations
Montana (1484)
4/15/2003 - 1/1/20200.08 4 Citations
Nebraska (1544)
1/1/1998 - 8/31/20010.10Yes
Nebraska (1485)
9/1/2001 - 1/1/20200.08Yes3 Citations
Nevada (1548)
1/1/1998 - 9/22/20030.10Yes
Nevada (1486)
9/23/2003 - 1/1/20200.08Yes2 Citations
New Jersey (1546)
1/1/1998 - 7/1/20050.10Yes
New Jersey (1488)
7/2/2005 - 1/1/20200.08Yes2 Citations
New Mexico (1547)

Prior to July 1, 2003, in N.M. Stat. Ann. § 66-12-11, New Mexico prohibited boating while intoxicated, although it did not specify a blood alcohol content that defined the term "intoxicated."

1/1/1998 - 6/30/20030.00 
New Mexico (1509)
7/1/2003 - 1/1/20200.08 3 Citations
New York (1549)
1/1/1998 - 10/31/20030.10Yes
New York (1489)
11/1/2003 - 1/1/20200.08Yes2 Citations
Ohio (1550)
1/1/1998 - 6/29/20030.10Yes
Ohio (1492)
6/30/2003 - 1/1/20200.08Yes2 Citations
Oklahoma (1551)
1/1/1998 - 6/30/20110.10Yes2 Citations
Oklahoma (1493)
7/1/2011 - 1/1/20200.08Yes2 Citations
Pennsylvania (1553)
1/1/1998 - 1/7/20070.10Yes
Pennsylvania (1495)
1/8/2007 - 1/1/20200.08Yes2 Citations
Rhode Island (1554)
1/1/1998 - 7/8/20010.10 1 Citations
Rhode Island (1496)
7/9/2001 - 1/1/20200.08Yes4 Citations
South Carolina (1555)
1/1/1998 - 7/1/19990.00 
South Carolina (1497)
7/2/1999 - 1/1/20200.10 3 Citations
South Dakota (1556)
1/1/1998 - 6/30/20020.10Yes
South Dakota (1498)
7/1/2002 - 1/1/20200.08Yes2 Citations
Tennessee (1557)
1/1/1998 - 6/30/20060.10 
Tennessee (1499)
7/1/2006 - 1/1/20200.08 3 Citations
Texas (1558)
1/1/1998 - 8/31/19990.10Yes1 Citations
Texas (1500)
9/1/1999 - 1/1/20200.08Yes3 Citations
Utah (1501)
1/1/1998 - 12/29/20180.08Yes4 Citations
Utah (4123)
12/30/2018 - 1/1/20200.05Yes5 Citations
Washington (1562)
1/1/1998 - 12/31/19980.10Yes
Washington (1504)
1/1/1999 - 1/1/20200.08Yes3 Citations
West Virginia (1564)
1/1/1998 - 5/4/20040.10Yes
West Virginia (1505)
5/5/2004 - 1/1/20200.08Yes3 Citations
Wisconsin (1563)
1/1/1998 - 9/29/20030.10Yes
Wisconsin (1506)
9/30/2003 - 1/1/20200.08Yes2 Citations
Wyoming (1507)
1/1/1998 - 6/30/20190.10Yes1 Citations
Wyoming (5081)

Beginning July 1, 2019, a BAC limit of 0.08 applies if the watercraft is a motorboat, defined as any watercraft propelled in any respect by propulsion machinery powered by an energy source other than human effort.

7/1/2019 - 1/1/20200.08Yes3 Citations
United States (1514)
1/1/1998 - 5/10/20010.10Yes3 Citations
United States (1511)
5/11/2001 - 1/1/20200.08Yes3 Citations