Boating safety is a team effort; boaters should be cognizant of the laws, rules, and regulations of the lake to ensure the safety of all…
Operating Under the Influence
Arizona Boating Laws & Penalties: Operating Under The Influence
Operating a boat or PWC while impaired is dangerous and illegal. Just like drinking and driving a car, if you're caught operating a boat while you're intoxicated, you can be arrested for an "OUI" (operating under the influence).
It is illegal to operate any vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs — including boats or personal watercraft.
Boaters are urged to be familiar with Arizona boating laws for OUI, and the consequential penalties which can be found in Title 5, Article 10 of the Arizona Revised Statutes. Personal watercraft operators are obligated to follow the same Arizona boating laws as other vessels.
Agencies with jurisdiction over Lake Havasu
Lake Havasu is considered a federal waterway and is governed by eight agencies. The Lake Havasu City Police Department has jurisdiction over the Bridgewater Channel. The Mohave County & San Bernardino County Sheriffs, as well as Arizona Game & Fish Department, Arizona State Park Department, and the U.S. Coast Guard have jurisdiction over the lake itself. The Chemehuevi Indian Tribe has jurisdiction over all reservation shorelines and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has federal jurisdiction over the lake and government lands surrounding the lake.
OUI checkpoints
During the busy summer months, any one of the law enforcement agencies may set up an OUI checkpoint on the water. The purpose of the checkpoint is to detect and remove impaired and unsafe boaters.
If you get pulled over
A.R.S. §5-395.03 , which went into effect in 2014, states if you operate (drive) a boat, PWC, or motorized watercraft on any body of water within the state of Arizona (including Lake Havasu), in using the waterway, you automatically give consent to any law enforcement officer who believes you may be under the influence to test you for the purpose of determining your alcohol concentration or drug content. If you refuse to be tested, whether you are sober or not, you will be subject to civil penalties. If you are convicted of OUI, you will also have to pay substantial civil penalties in addition to any court costs that are associated with an OUI conviction.
Arizona takes boating under the influence very seriously. Having "just one" while driving a boat can have grave consequences personally and financially. Drinking while operating a boat not only endangers the lives of the driver and his/her occupants, but endangers everyone else enjoying the lake. For a responsible and safe boating experience while on Lake Havasu, consider taking a 6-hour Boating Education Class or hiring a Designated Captain.
Designated Captain Program
The Lake Havasu Marine Association offers a program that allows boaters to hire a Designated Captain to operate their privately-owned or rented boat for the day. Designated Captains are necessary, logical, and much needed in order to minimize the number of intoxicated boat operators on the water, especially on busy holiday weekends. The cost of hiring a Designated Captain pales in comparison to what an OUI conviction will cost the driver of a boat or PWC. For more information, click here.
If you haven't already, anyone planning on boating on Lake Havasu is urged to peruse our Boating Safety section.
The Bridgewater Channel is a mecca for residents and vacationers and is a favorite hotspot for boaters to beach during the warmer weather.
