Sen. Stone’s bill to curb drunk boating passes committee

A bill authored by Senator Jeff Stone which aims to curb drunk boating has passed unanimously through the Senate Committee on Public Safety.

Senate Bill 392 seeks to crack down on boating while under the influence by allowing boats that have been operated by an intoxicated individual to be impounded for up to 30 days.

The bill aims to align intoxicated boating laws more closely with intoxicated driving laws; if a boater kills someone while operating under the influence and is convicted of said crime, their boat could be subject to asset forfeiture rules that are currently in effect for automobiles.

“SB 393 aligns our BUI waterway laws with our roadway DUI laws. It’s a simple measure, but it shouldn’t matter if a person is killed by a car or a boat driven by someone under the influence of drugs or alcohol- the victim is still dead and the vehicle used in the crime should be subject to asset forfeiture,” said Sen. Stone in a statement.

Stone introduced the legislation after learning about the death of 10-year-old Sara Margiotta, who was killed when a drunk boater crashed into her family’s vessel on the Colorado River in 2007.

“After their daughter was killed on the river, the Margiotta Family formed Sara’s Way, a non-profit organization, to raise awareness about the importance of boating safety and the dangers of drinking and boating,”

The bill will head next to the Senate Committee on Appropriations for a hearing.