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Boating Under the Influence

Boating Under the Influence Defense Attorney in Morgantown, WV

Arrested for BUI on Cheat Lake, or the Monongahela, Ohio, or Kanawha River?

It is illegal to drink alcoholic beverages/use drugs and operate a boat, canoe, jet ski, yacht, pontoon, raft, or any other type of motorized or non-motorized water vessel in West Virginia. If a blood alcohol content (BAC) test registers at or in excess of 0.08% while operating a motorized vessel, you are at risk of being convicted of BUI. If you are being arrested for, or charged with, boating under the influence (BUI) or operating under the influence (OUI), contact Angotti & Straface Attorneys at Law L.C. in Morgantown. Our legal defense team offers our clients over 75 years of combined experience successfully defending individuals who have allegedly committed BUI offenses on Cheat Lake, the Monongahela, Little Kanawha, Ohio, and Kanawha Rivers, as well as other popular party and recreation destinations.

Fines and Sentencing for Boating Under the Influence in West Virginia

Penalties, sentences, and consequences for BUI in West Virginia vary depending on the specifics of each case. However, the following penalties are generally applicable upon conviction:

First BUI Offense (misdemeanor)

  • Jail

    one day – six months in jail

  • Fines

    $100 – $500

Second BUI Offense (misdemeanor)

  • Jail

    six months – one year in jail

  • Fines

    $1,000 – $3,000

Third BUI Offense (felony)

  • Jail

    one – three years in prison

  • Fines

    $3,000 – $5,000

BUI Involving Bodily Injury (misdemeanor)

  • Jail

    one day – one year in prison

  • Fines

    $200 – $1,000

BUI Involving Bodily Injury (misdemeanor)

  • Jail (misdemeanor)

    90 days – one year in jail

  • Fines (misdemeanor)

    $500 – $1,000

  • Jail (felony)

    one – ten years in prison

  • Fines (felony)

    $1,000 – $3,000

Fight Boating Under the Influence Charges in Morgantown, WV

A Hands-On Approach to Every Case Protecting Morgantown’s Injured and Accused Since 1952

The penalties for BUI convictions are structured similarly to those of DUI convictions. Boaters under the age of 21 may be convicted if a BAC test reflects the presence of alcohol at a concentration at or above 0.02%. Provision of blood or urine for testing or submission to a breathalyzer test is mandatory. Failure to comply will result in presumed guilt and penalties. If you require aggressive and highly experienced legal representation to defend yourself against allegations of BUI or OUI, contact Angotti & Straface Attorneys at Law in Morgantown at: (304) 292-4381 to schedule a complimentary initial consultation. We stand by our clients and fight on your behalf from the beginning of your case to its conclusion.