DES MOINES – Some Iowa legislators are concerned about a
proposed state law that would enact stricter standards for
drunken-driving violations for boaters, the
Des Moines
Register reported in a story today.
The proposal, which was approved in a unanimous January vote
by the Senate, would change the blood-alcohol limit for boat
operators from 0.10 to 0.08, but still must gain approval
from the Iowa House and the signature of the governor before
it becomes law, the
Register reported.
House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy said some legislators,
including himself, have concerns that the proposal may be
too tough.
"It may not be politically correct or politically popular to
say so, but there's a day-and-night difference between
driving on the road and on the water," McCarthy told the
newspaper. "Accidents rarely, rarely, if ever, happen on the
water due to alcohol consumption. It's just a fact."
Drunken-boating violations do not count against driving
records. Intoxicated boat operators can be charged with a
simple misdemeanor for the first offense, which carries a
fine of up to $1,000, two days in jail and loss of their
boat licenses for a year.
Brenda Krumel, president of the Polk County chapter of
Mother's Against Drunk Driving, said her group is opposed to
any amendments that would give more leniency to people who
drink and operate boats, compared with those who drive
automobiles.
"There needs to be a serious message" for people who boat
drunk "because the results are that people can lose their
lives," Krumel told the
Register.
Last year, 20 percent of reported boating accidents across
the state involved alcohol. That's up from 16 percent in
2004, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources said. There
were 42 arrests in Iowa in 2006 for operating a boat while
intoxicated. That's up from 26 arrests in 2004. Iowa first
put a blood-alcohol limit in place for boaters in 2000, the
newspaper reported.
McCarthy said the bill could be debated later this week.
