Boating Under
The Influence

There’s something freeing about being out on the water—until the flashing blue lights close in. One moment you’re cruising across the bay with friends, maybe a drink in hand. The next, an FWC officer boards your boat, asks you to step aside, and before you know it—you’re cuffed, charged with Boating Under the Influence (BUI).

Don’t make the mistake of brushing this off. A BUI in Florida carries weight. It’s not a ticket. It’s a criminal charge, with consequences that can follow you on land and sea for years.

Florida BUI Law: What You’re Up Against

Under Florida Statute § 327.35, it’s illegal to operate a vessel while:

• Impaired by alcohol or drugs to the extent that normal faculties are impaired

• Or with a BAC (blood-alcohol content) of .08% or higher

And it doesn’t matter if you’re on a kayak, jet ski, sailboat, fishing boat—any watercraft counts.

Officers don’t need a warrant to stop your vessel. Sobriety tests on the dock, handheld breathalyzers, urine samples—they can all become part of their evidence. And unlike DUI, there’s no “roadside.” The rules shift, and you may not even realize how easily the situation got out of control.

Penalties for a First-Time BUI

Think first-time means low-stakes? Think again.

• Fines between $500–$1,000

• Up to 6 months in jail

• Probation, community service, mandatory substance abuse course

• Vessel impoundment for 10 days

• Permanent criminal record

If your BAC was .15% or higher, or there was a minor on board, those penalties increase sharply. And repeat offenses? That’s when things get much worse.

Second or Third BUI? It Gets Real Ugly

• Second BUI within 5 years: 10 days minimum jail, up to 9 months, $2,000 fine, more mandatory treatment

• Third BUI within 10 years: It becomes a felony, up to 5 years in state prison

• If someone’s injured? Felony.

• If someone dies? You’re facing BUI manslaughter, up to 30 years

You could lose your driver’s license, your job, your boating rights—and your freedom.

Why You Need The Ticket Clinic’s DUI Lawyers on Your Side

This isn’t some slip-up you want to handle alone. BUI cases are technical, tricky, and loaded with nuances. Were you actually operating the vessel? Did they administer tests correctly? Did they follow procedure in a marine environment?

That’s where experience makes all the difference.

The Ticket Clinic has been defending people across Florida for over 35 years. We have over 2,000 documented wins on our website —and that includes BUI, DUI, and other criminal traffic cases that most firms won’t touch.

• We’ve got 27 Florida offices, including coastal cities where BUI charges are common

• Our lawyers have a presence in every courthouse in the state

• We work with former prosecutors, veteran investigators, and field experts

• We know how to pick apart BUI arrests, from bad field tests to unlawful stops to miscalibrated breathalyzers

And yes—we offer affordable pricing and flexible payment plans, because no one should have to choose between their future and their finances.

Don’t Let One Night Sink Your Record

A BUI charge doesn’t mean you’re guilty. But if you don’t respond quickly—with smart, strategic legal help—it can change the course of your life. The sooner you act, the better chance we have to intervene, fight for reduced charges, or even get the case thrown out entirely.

Call The Ticket Clinic now. We’ll review your case for free. No pressure. Just honest insight from the largest, most battle-tested traffic and criminal defense team in the country.