What do you think? Should convictions for boating under the influence affect your driver’s license? Isn’t it equally as dangerous?
The California DMV has agreed to pay $5.6m to settle a class action lawsuit to more than 750 boaters in the state. According to the Los Angeles Times, the lawsuit was filed after the division suspended the driving privileges of residents who had been convicted of boating under the influence of alcohol.
The case started in 2005, after a man who was arrested and convicted for BUI on the Colorado River had his driver’s license suspended and was forced to take a class on alcohol addiction. The man sued to contest the practice.
In March 2007, a judge ruled that the DMV was misinterpreting state law and barred the department from suspending driving privileges for BUI convictions.
The two sides agreed to a $5.6m settlement in the case. The settlement will go to 753 boaters whose driving privileges were suspended after BUI convictions.
Courtesy of www.ibinews.com.
Good job, enough of our rights are being taken away. When you take a driver’s liscense, you agree to any and all rules and regs, even self incremination by accepting the driver’s liscense. You in effect sign a sub agreement to the constitution when it refers to driving on public roads.
When you operate a boat that does not require you to sign away your right to self incremination (breath test), THEY HAVE NO RIGHT TO FORCE YOU LET ALONE ATTACH YOUR DRIVERS LISCENSE TO IT.
A small step made against the heavy handed tactics of our state, local and federal governments. In the long run they will just change state law but in the short run a small victory. It makes no difference what your personal opinion is of the appropriate punishments for drinking and operating anything in this country. It is, in my opinion, just a short step and it is done little by little until you will face DL suspension for operating the lawn mower drunk. After all, you could go and hit somebody with that lawnmower. Don’t laugh, it is not that far off. So this was a small victory in a war that will eventually be lost. That is unless we have the revolution in this country that is long past due. Jefferson who has been rolling in his grave as government gets more and more power over our lifes is rolling a little less with this judicial result.
Although I don’t believe this to be heavy handed should it happen in our state and these laws should be delt within the confines of the state in which the ticket was given. I also believe it should have nothing to do with your driver’s license. An alternative would be separate boating from drive and have separate punishment like no boating for a certain amount of time, Community service and possible jail time are just some.
Let’s not forget what happened in Clear Lake, CA when an Assistant Police Chief ran over a sailboat while most likely drunk people lost their lives and this is what is most important.
I drink but not when sailing it only takes away from the pleasure it does not enhance it but it would make me a dangerous skipper so I prefer to boat while sober. I get that others do not feel this way and should understand the consequences of their actions