BUI Lawyer | Washington Boating Laws and Regulations
Washington State is home to many beautiful bodies of water. Unfortunately, there are also several Washington boating laws and regulations that could ruin your day.
Washington boating laws and regulations are very comprehensive. They govern vessel length and capacity, proper fueling, and how to secure a boat to a trailer. More serious boating law violations, such as a BUI can turn a fun Sunday afternoon into a trip to jail. In such cases, the best thing you could do for yourself is to immediately speak to a BUI lawyer.
There are too many Washington boating laws and regulations so we cannot include them all here. Instead, we encourage all boaters to look over RCW 79A.60 for a comprehensive list of Washington boating laws and regulations.
IF AFTER READING THE RCW 79A.60, YOU STILL HAVE QUESTIONS, GIVE US A CALL AT (206) 409-7608
“I would hire Greg again without hesitation and would recommend him to anyone in need of a lawyer.” – S. H., Client: Improper Lane Use & No Insurance
BUI Lawyers – Washington Boating Laws and Regulations
Boating Under the Influence (BUI) is one of the more common violation of Washington boating laws and regulations.
BUI is a criminal law violations. It is not a mere infraction or a ticket.
The good news is that the penalties for a BUI are not as severe as they are for Driving Under the Influence (DUI). Nonetheless, BUI is still a criminal charge and you would be wise to speak to a BUI lawyer about your case.
There are several important distinctions between a BUI and a DUI.
First, BUIs are misdemeanors, whereas DUIs are gross misdemeanors. This means that the maximum sentence of a BUI is 90 days instead of the 364-day maximum jail sentence for a DUI. There are no minimum mandatory jail sentence for a BUI, where a DUI has a mandatory minimum jail sentence of 24 or 48 hours depending on the defendant’s BAC level and/or prior DUI convictions.
Also, the maximum fine that a court may impose in BUI cases is significantly lower than the maximum fine in a DUI case. A maximum fine for a BUI is $1,000, versus a maximum fine of $5,000 in DUI cases. As with the jail sentence, there is no mandatory minimum fine for BUI cases whereas there is a mandatory fine, a hefty one at that, for a DUI cases. But, as you probably understand, the court will almost always impose a fine.
Lastly, in Washington State, there is no mandatory license suspension required for BUI.
As any BUI lawyer will admit, BUIs are not as severe as other criminal law violations, a DUI for example. Nonetheless, BUI is a criminal law violation and carries a potential jail sentence and/or a fine.
In addition, the court will impose a mandatory drug and alcohol evaluation and compliance with recommendations of the evaluation agency. And let us not forget about a probation period. The court will impose a probation period too.
We suggest you speak to a BUI lawyer in your area as soon as possible. If you are in Western Washington, give us a call. If you are too far from us, we would be happy to provide you with contact information for BUI lawyers in other areas.
Your chances of beating a BUI case increase dramatically with the help of a skillful BUI lawyer. BUI cases are inherently weaker for the State, so they are tougher to prosecute.
This does not mean it is a bright idea to handle your BUI case on your own or hire a below-par attorney to handle it for you. You will still need to retain an experienced BUI lawyer to advocate for you. Therefore, we encourage you to contact our office immediately to evaluate your case. Our initial consultations are free and we will vigorously advocate for you.
If you or someone you know is facing Boating Under the Influence charge, give us a call today at (206) 409-7608
Washington Boating Laws and Regulations: Equipment Requirements
An essential part of preparing for a day on Washington waters is to know what equipment must be aboard. Washington boating laws and regulations put a heavy emphasis on required equipment. For a complete list of equipment requirements for boaters, we encourage our readers to go over Chapter 352-60 of the WAC.
Or if you would like to save time and have us tell you what the Washington boating laws and regulations say regarding equipment requirements, give us a call at (206) 409-7608
Life Jackets: All vessels must have at least one U.S. Coast Guard–approved Type I, II, or III life jacket for every person on board. This also applies to canoes and kayaks.
Boats that are 16 feet or longer must carry one Type IV U.S. Coast Guard–approved life jacket. This is in addition to Type I, II or III life jacket. Canoes and kayaks are exempt from these requirement.
Navigation Lights: Navigation lights must be displayed between sunset and sunrise. And, they must be displayed during periods of restricted visibility. For example, during heavy rain or fog.
Fire Extinguishers: All vessels with motors are required to maintain a Type B fire extinguisher on board if one or more of the following conditions exist:
- Inboard engine
- Vessel length of 26 feet or longer
- Closed compartments used to store portable fuel tanks and other flammable materials
- Double-bottoms not sealed to the hull or which are not completely filled with flotation material
- Enclosed living spaces; and permanently installed fuel tanks
Typically, you BUI lawyer can also help you handle your equipment violation matters.
IF YOU RECEIVED A BUI OR ANOTHER BOATING VIOLATION, CALL US AT (206) 409-7608
Help of Washington Boating Laws and Regulations & BUI Lawyers
Washington boating laws and regulations lawyers can help you in many way.
A Washington boating laws and regulations lawyer or a BUI lawyer can review the evidence against you that you may have overlooked. A Washington boating laws and regulations lawyer or a BUI lawyer is better qualified to look for issues in your case.
There may be certain evidentiary and procedural problems in the government’s case against you may lead to reduced charges. Or even a dismissal of your case.
One of the best things you can do for yourself as a defendant is to call a defense lawyer sooner rather than later. It is critical that you speak to a BUI lawyer or a Washington boating laws and regulations lawyer as soon as possible. You need to understand the case and the evidence the government has against you and what can be done for you.
CALL A BUI LAWYER AT (206) 409-7608 FOR A FREE CONSULTATION
Lawyers in King, Pierce, and Snohomish Counties
Our BUI lawyer handles boating violations in the following jurisdictions.
King County: Bellevue Boating Offense • Bothell Boating Offense • Clyde Hill Boating Offense • Hunts Point Boating Offense • Issaquah Boating Offense • Kent Boating Offense • Kirkland Boating Offense • Medina Boating Offense • Mercer Island Boating Offense • North Bend • Redmond Boating Offense • Renton Boating Offense • Sammamish Boating Offense • Seattle Boating Offense • Snoqualmie Boating Offense • Yarrow Point Boating Offense.
Pierce County: Tacoma Boating Offense.
Snohomish County: Bothell Boating Offense • Edmonds Boating Offense • Everett Boating Offense • Lynnwood Boating Offense.
