Articles Posted in Boating Under the Influence BUI

Map of Lake St. Clair, St. Clair River, Detroit River and Bordering Communities

Lake St. Clair, Detroit River, St. Clair River 

In Michigan, operating a watercraft, including a jet ski, while intoxicated or impaired is a crime. Michigan laws pertaining to Boating under the Influence (BUI) or Boating While Impaired (BWVI) are similar to drunk driving laws which pertain to operation of motor vehicles of public roads. In particular, the State of Michigan has adopted the same blood alcohol content threshold for BUI that has existed for OWI in a motor vehicle (BAC .08%). This publication will focus on Boating Under the Influence (BUI) cases that arise on Lake St. Clair and its tributaries; the St. Clair River and the Detroit River. This publication is based upon the experience of our Macomb County criminal defense attorneys handling BUI cases in all of the jurisdictions that are evident in the above map (Macomb County, St. Clair County and the Grosse Pointe Municipal Courts.