What is the BAC limit for BUI?

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Can you get a DUI on a boat? (2026 State-by-State Guide + Penalties)

Yes—BUI (Boating Under the Influence) is illegal in all 50 states.

April 13, 2026

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Weird Traffic Laws Editorial Team•Published April 13, 2026•Last updated April 14, 2026

We review statewide statutes and code sections where available, label framework-only states separately, and refresh pages when source language materially changes. 43 statute-led citations, 4 code summaries, and 3 framework-only state entries in the current matrix.

Research methodology Informational only, not legal advice About the editorial team

Quick Answer

Yes—BUI (Boating Under the Influence) is a serious offense in all 50 states.

This topic maps cleanly across all 50 states in the current dataset.

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Why Is It Illegal?

Boat DUI is one of the cleanest 50-state topics in the project because every state has some form of boating-under-the-influence law. The terminology may change between BUI, OUI, or boating while intoxicated, but the practical result is the same: if you operate a boat while impaired, there is almost always a direct statutory path to charge it. That makes this page one of the strongest legal-reference style SEO assets on the site. Unlike horse, donkey, or hoverboard topics, the doctrine here is mainstream and widely enforced.

State-by-State Laws

Scan the most useful states first, then expand the full table when you want every state.

50 states say yesNo statewide exceptions in this dataset

Strong 50-state signalPreview starts with the fastest high-signal states

This topic maps cleanly across all 50 states in the current dataset.

Matrix coverage

50 states

No statewide exceptions appear in the current dataset.

Citation mix

43 Statute4 Code3 Rule

Higher statute share usually means a cleaner legal-reference page.

Reader note

This topic currently reads as a clean 50-state page, so the preview starts with California, Texas, Florida, and New York before the rest.

Jump to your state

StatuteCode FrameworkRule Framework

State	Status	Law
California	Illegal	Statute Cal. Harb. & Nav. Code §655(b) bars operating a vessel while under the influence
Texas	Illegal	Statute Tex. Penal Code §49.06 makes boating while intoxicated an offense when a person is intoxicated while operating a watercraft
Florida	Illegal	Statute Fla. Stat. § 327.35 makes boating under the influence unlawful when a person operates a vessel while impaired by alcohol or drugs or at or above 0.08 BAC
New York	Illegal	Statute N.Y. Navigation Law §49-a prohibits operating a vessel while intoxicated or impaired by alcohol or drugs
Alabama	Illegal	Statute Ala. Code § 32-5A-191.3 prohibits operating a vessel or marine device while under the influence of alcohol or controlled substances
Alaska	Illegal	Statute Alaska Stat. § 28.35.030 applies operating-under-the-influence law to watercraft, prohibiting operation while under the influence of an alcoholic beverage, inhalant, or controlled substance
Arizona	Illegal	Statute A.R.S. § 5-395 makes it unlawful to operate or be in actual physical control of a motorized watercraft while under the influence of intoxicating liquor, drugs, or vapors
Arkansas	Illegal	Statute Ark. Code § 5-65-303 prohibits operating a motorboat or vessel, or manipulating water skis or a similar device, while intoxicated or under the influence of alcohol or drugs

California

IllegalStatute

Cal. Harb. & Nav. Code §655(b) bars operating a vessel while under the influence

Texas

IllegalStatute

Tex. Penal Code §49.06 makes boating while intoxicated an offense when a person is intoxicated while operating a watercraft

Florida

IllegalStatute

Fla. Stat. § 327.35 makes boating under the influence unlawful when a person operates a vessel while impaired by alcohol or drugs or at or above 0.08 BAC

New York

IllegalStatute

N.Y. Navigation Law §49-a prohibits operating a vessel while intoxicated or impaired by alcohol or drugs

Alabama

IllegalStatute

Ala. Code § 32-5A-191.3 prohibits operating a vessel or marine device while under the influence of alcohol or controlled substances

Alaska

IllegalStatute

Alaska Stat. § 28.35.030 applies operating-under-the-influence law to watercraft, prohibiting operation while under the influence of an alcoholic beverage, inhalant, or controlled substance

Arizona

IllegalStatute

A.R.S. § 5-395 makes it unlawful to operate or be in actual physical control of a motorized watercraft while under the influence of intoxicating liquor, drugs, or vapors

Arkansas

IllegalStatute

Ark. Code § 5-65-303 prohibits operating a motorboat or vessel, or manipulating water skis or a similar device, while intoxicated or under the influence of alcohol or drugs

Reported Cases & Sources

Verified incidents, court rulings, and enforcement examples tied to this question.

1 sourced item

Arrest report2025-07

Unidentified boat operator · San Diego, California

In July 2025, San Diego police said a boat operator crashed into USS Midway Museum property in the harbor, turning a simple collision story into a drinking-on-the-water case. Hoodline reported that officers then arrested the operator for boating under the influence and hit-and-run, which makes this a clean modern BUI example rather than a hypothetical warning about alcohol on a boat.

Source: Hoodline — San Diego boat operator arrested for BUI after collision

What Are The Penalties?

Penalties include fines of $250-$5,000, jail time, probation, and mandatory boater education.

What To Do If You're Charged

If charged with BUI: cooperate with law enforcement, request a test, and contact a maritime attorney.

Need Legal Help?

If you've been charged, consult with a qualified attorney in your state.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

A boat is not a DUI workaround. It is just the water version of the same alcohol-impaired-operation problem.

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