Fort Worth Boating While Intoxicated Lawyer

You thought you were just having a good time when you got busted for boating while intoxicated (BWI). A Fort Worth BWI attorney can protect your rights and work to get your charge reduced or dismissed.

Who doesn’t love a good boating adventure? A break from your day-to-day life, wind in your hair, and the pleasant sensation of a cool dip on a warm day. It’s very easy to be lulled into a sense of freedom—a carefree feeling that the normal rules don’t apply out there on the water.

Unfortunately, whether on land or sea, mountain or lake, it’s a crime to operate a moving vehicle or vessel while intoxicated. Many people don’t even realize that the law regarding boating while intoxicated is virtually the same as driving while intoxicated.

Whether you decided to head down to Lake Whitney for some fishing or your friend invited you to White Rock Lake for some water skiing, if you’ve been arrested and charged with boating while intoxicated (BWI), you need to contact a Fort Worth boating while intoxicated lawyer at our office.

The Legal Penalties of a Fort Worth BWI Conviction

In Texas, operating any moving vessel while intoxicated is a crime. You may be surprised by what is considered a moving vessel. If any force other than the current propels the vessel you’re operating, you can’t operate it while intoxicated. This includes water skis, sailboats, jet skis, and aquaplanes.

The legal limit for boating while intoxicated is the same as for a DWI: .08 percent blood alcohol concentration. The penalties are exactly the same for boating while intoxicated as they are for driving while intoxicated.

Boating while intoxicated is a Class B misdemeanor with a sentence of up to 180 days in jail and a fine up to $2,000. If you have prior DWI or BWI offenses, or if there are aggravating factors in your case, your BWI could be charged as a felony.

Defenses Against a Fort Worth BWI Charge

You may be considering signing the first plea agreement the prosecutor offers you, but you may want to speak with a boating while intoxicated attorney in Fort Worth first. There are effective defenses against BWI charges. See below for a few common defenses that work in drunk boating cases:

• You weren’t driving the boat.
• You weren’t drinking.
• Your rights were violated.
• You were under the legal limit.
• The chemical sample was improperly handled.
• The breath or blood test results were not accurate.
• The police or laboratory made errors.

Reach Out to a Fort Worth BWI Lawyer

When you’ve been charged with a BWI, it may be tempting not to take the charge too seriously. You were just having a little fun—everyone will understand that, right? Not necessarily. A BWI conviction looks just as bad as a DWI and can have the same negative life consequences.

Contact a Fort Worth boating while intoxicated lawyer at the Law Offices of Jeff C. Kennedy. We will discuss your case with you during a free initial consultation, and we will advise you on your defense options. Call 817-605-1010 or fill out our online contact form below for a chance to get the most positive outcome possible.