Drunken boating standard lowered in Missouri

Jefferson, MO

Missouri's threshold for drunken boating on lakes and major rivers soon could be lowered to the same level as that for drivers.

Legislation sent to the governor Friday drops the legal
blood-alcohol limit to 0.08 percent. It would apply to lakes and
the Mississippi and Missouri rivers.

Lawmakers in 2001 lowered the roadway drunken driving threshold to 0.08 percent.

The bill also requires boats to travel at no-wake speeds within 100 feet of the Water Patrol and other emergency vessels with red or blue lights.

Another provision lets previous convictions in municipal court count in determining whether someone is a repeat drunken driver or boater. The state Supreme Court ruled earlier this year that they did not count.

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