HARRISBURG, Pa. (July 1) – As the busy July 4 holiday approaches, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) is reminding vacationers that boating under the influence (BUI) is a serious crime and a threat to public safety.
“Boating under the influence is no different than driving a car after someone’s been drinking,” said Colonel Corey Britcher, director of the PFBC Bureau of Law Enforcement. “Alcohol impairs an individual’s ability to operate a boat safely and puts the driver, his passengers and others on the water at risk.”
“Sun, wind, noise, vibration and motion — stressors common to the boating environment — intensify the effects of alcohol,” he added. “Boating is a fun summertime activity, and we’re urging all boaters to help keep it that way by boating sober.”
Last year across the state, four individuals died in boating accidents. Alcohol was a contributing factor in one of the cases.
So far this year, PFBC waterways conservation officers have arrested 17 individuals for boating under the influence. They arrested 48 individuals in 2015; 93 individuals in 2014; 90 individuals in 2013; 60 individuals in 2012; 62 in 2011; and 65 in 2010.
Filtered by region, WCOs in 2015 arrested the following number of individuals for BUI:
- 7 in Northwest Region (Counties – Butler, Clarion, Crawford, Erie, Forest, Lawrence, Mercer, Venango, Warren)
- 16 in Southwest Region (Counties - Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Cambria, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Somerset, Washington, Westmoreland)
- 2 in Northcentral Region (Counties - Cameron, Centre, Clearfield, Clinton, Elk, Jefferson, Lycoming, McKean, Montour, Northumberland, Potter, Snyder, Tioga, Union)
- 12 in Southcentral Region (Counties - Adams, Bedford, Blair, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Fulton, Huntingdon, Juniata, Lebanon, Mifflin, Perry, York)
- 3 in Northeast Region (Counties - Bradford, Carbon, Columbia, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Wayne, Wyoming)
- 8 in Southeast Region (Counties - Berks, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Lancaster, Lehigh, Montgomery, Northampton, Philadelphia, Schuylkill)
“Many boaters may not know that the threshold for BUI is the same as with motor vehicles – 0.08 percent,” added Britcher. “Fish and Boat officers regularly patrol waterways and will have an increased presence this weekend and around the upcoming July 4 holiday.”
If convicted of boating under the influence, operators could face fines and jail time.
Media Contacts:
Please contact the regional law enforcement office covering your area to schedule an interview with a waterways conservation officer.
Northwest Region (Counties – Butler, Clarion, Crawford, Erie, Forest, Lawrence, Mercer, Venango, Warren)
Regional Manager - Captain Tom Edwards, (814) 337-0444
Southwest Region (Counties - Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Cambria, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Somerset, Washington, Westmoreland)
Regional Manager – Captain Tom Crist, (814) 445-8974
Northcentral Region (Counties - Cameron, Centre, Clearfield, Clinton, Elk, Jefferson, Lycoming, McKean, Montour, Northumberland, Potter, Snyder, Tioga, Union)
Regional Manager – Captain Jerry Barton, (814) 359-5250
Southcentral Region (Counties - Adams, Bedford, Blair, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Fulton, Huntingdon, Juniata, Lebanon, Mifflin, Perry, York)
Regional Manager – Captain Alan Robinson, (717) 486-7087
Northeast Region (Counties - Bradford, Carbon, Columbia, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Wayne, Wyoming)
Regional Manager – Captain Larry Bundy, (570) 477-5717
Southeast Region (Counties - Berks, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Lancaster, Lehigh, Montgomery, Northampton, Philadelphia, Schuylkill)
Regional Manager – Captain Ray Bednarchik, (717) 626-0228
Harrisburg – Eric Levis, Press Secretary
(717) 705-7806
elevis@pa.gov