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
AL (Alabama)
1/1/1998 - 12/31/20010.10Yes1 Citations
AL (Alabama)
1/1/2002 - 1/1/20180.08Yes3 Citations
AK (Alaska)
1/1/1998 - 8/31/20010.10Yes1 Citations
AK (Alaska)
9/1/2001 - 1/1/20180.08Yes3 Citations
AZ (Arizona)
1/1/1998 - 8/30/20010.10Yes1 Citations
AZ (Arizona)
8/31/2001 - 1/1/20180.08Yes2 Citations
AR (Arkansas)
1/1/1998 - 8/12/20010.10Yes1 Citations
AR (Arkansas)
8/13/2001 - 1/1/20180.08Yes5 Citations
CO (Colorado)
1/1/1998 - 8/4/20080.10Yes1 Citations
CO (Colorado)
8/5/2008 - 1/1/20180.08Yes2 Citations
CT (Connecticut)
1/1/1998 - 9/30/20030.10Yes1 Citations
CT (Connecticut)
10/1/2003 - 1/1/20180.08Yes2 Citations
DE (Delaware)
1/1/1998 - 7/25/20060.10Yes1 Citations
DE (Delaware)
7/26/2006 - 1/1/20180.08Yes2 Citations
GA (Georgia)
1/1/1998 - 5/14/20130.10Yes1 Citations
GA (Georgia)
5/15/2013 - 1/1/20180.08Yes2 Citations
IN (Indiana)
1/1/1998 - 6/30/20010.10Yes1 Citations
IN (Indiana)
7/1/2001 - 1/1/20180.08Yes4 Citations
IA (Iowa)
1/1/1998 - 6/30/20000.00 
IA (Iowa)
7/1/2000 - 6/30/20110.10Yes2 Citations
IA (Iowa)
7/1/2011 - 1/1/20180.08Yes2 Citations
KY (Kentucky)
1/1/1998 - 3/2/19980.00 
KY (Kentucky)
3/3/1998 - 9/30/20000.10Yes3 Citations
KY (Kentucky)
10/1/2000 - 1/1/20180.08Yes3 Citations
LA (Louisiana)
1/1/1998 - 9/29/20030.10Yes1 Citations
LA (Louisiana)
9/30/2003 - 1/1/20180.08Yes2 Citations
MD (Maryland)
1/1/1998 - 9/30/19990.07 2 Citations
MD (Maryland)

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 4 Citations
MD (Maryland)

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 - 1/1/20180.08 9 Citations
MA (Massachusetts)
1/1/1998 - 6/29/20030.08 1 Citations
MA (Massachusetts)
6/30/2003 - 1/1/20180.08Yes2 Citations
MI (Michigan)
1/1/1998 - 3/30/20150.10Yes1 Citations
MI (Michigan)
3/31/2015 - 1/1/20180.08Yes2 Citations
MN (Minnesota)
1/1/1998 - 7/31/20050.10Yes4 Citations
MN (Minnesota)
8/1/2005 - 1/1/20180.08Yes3 Citations
MS (Mississippi)
1/1/1998 - 6/30/20100.10Yes1 Citations
MS (Mississippi)
7/1/2010 - 1/1/20180.08Yes2 Citations
MO (Missouri)
1/1/1998 - 8/27/20080.10Yes1 Citations
MO (Missouri)
8/28/2008 - 1/1/20180.08Yes4 Citations
MT (Montana)
1/1/1998 - 4/14/20030.10 3 Citations
MT (Montana)
4/15/2003 - 1/1/20180.08 4 Citations
NE (Nebraska)
1/1/1998 - 8/31/20010.10Yes1 Citations
NE (Nebraska)
9/1/2001 - 1/1/20180.08Yes3 Citations
NV (Nevada)
1/1/1998 - 9/22/20030.10Yes2 Citations
NV (Nevada)
9/23/2003 - 1/1/20180.08Yes2 Citations
NJ (New Jersey)
1/1/1998 - 7/1/20050.10Yes1 Citations
NJ (New Jersey)
7/2/2005 - 1/1/20180.08Yes2 Citations
NM (New Mexico)

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 
NM (New Mexico)
7/1/2003 - 1/1/20180.08 3 Citations
NY (New York)
1/1/1998 - 10/31/20030.10Yes1 Citations
NY (New York)
11/1/2003 - 1/1/20180.08Yes2 Citations
OH (Ohio)
1/1/1998 - 6/29/20030.10Yes1 Citations
OH (Ohio)
6/30/2003 - 1/1/20180.08Yes2 Citations
OK (Oklahoma)
1/1/1998 - 6/30/20110.10Yes3 Citations
OK (Oklahoma)
7/1/2011 - 1/1/20180.08Yes2 Citations
PA (Pennsylvania)
1/1/1998 - 1/7/20070.10Yes1 Citations
PA (Pennsylvania)
1/8/2007 - 1/1/20180.08Yes2 Citations
RI (Rhode Island)
1/1/1998 - 7/8/20010.10 2 Citations
RI (Rhode Island)
7/9/2001 - 1/1/20180.08Yes4 Citations
SC (South Carolina)
1/1/1998 - 7/1/19990.00 
SC (South Carolina)
7/2/1999 - 1/1/20180.10 3 Citations
SD (South Dakota)
1/1/1998 - 6/30/20020.10Yes1 Citations
SD (South Dakota)
7/1/2002 - 1/1/20180.08Yes2 Citations
TN (Tennessee)
1/1/1998 - 6/30/20060.10 2 Citations
TN (Tennessee)
7/1/2006 - 1/1/20180.08 3 Citations
TX (Texas)
1/1/1998 - 8/31/19990.10Yes2 Citations
TX (Texas)
9/1/1999 - 1/1/20180.08Yes3 Citations
WA (Washington)
1/1/1998 - 12/31/19980.10Yes1 Citations
WA (Washington)
1/1/1999 - 1/1/20180.08Yes4 Citations
WV (West Virginia)
1/1/1998 - 5/4/20040.10Yes4 Citations
WV (West Virginia)
5/5/2004 - 1/1/20180.08Yes3 Citations
WI (Wisconsin)
1/1/1998 - 9/29/20030.10Yes1 Citations
WI (Wisconsin)
9/30/2003 - 1/1/20180.08Yes2 Citations
US ( United States)
1/1/1998 - 5/10/20010.10Yes3 Citations
US ( United States)
5/11/2001 - 1/1/20180.08Yes3 Citations