DNR reminding boaters of law change this summer

IOWA CITY - Department of Natural Resource Conservation Officers took to the waters of Coralville Lake Reservoir this weekend to remind boaters of a change to Iowa statutes this summer.

In March, a law signed by Gov. Terry Branstad lowered the legal blood alcohol limit of boat drivers from .10 to .08. The law goes into effect July 1.

Lawmakers have been trying to pass the measure since 2006.

“Someone that can't operate a car at .08 isn't going to be able to operate a boat,” said Erika Billerbeck, a DNR Conservation officer who was among those talking to boaters at Coralville Lake.

Jeffrey Peck with the Army Corp. of Engineers was accompanying DNR officers as they cruised the 26 miles of shoreline that encompass Coralville Lake's large camping grounds.

“I've seen way too many fatalities,” Peck said. “Usually alcohol is involved. I hate to say that but it's one of the true hard facts.”

The current law makes it possible for someone to be within the legal limit while on the water, but then drive home drunk. But starting July 1, the legal blood alcohol limit for driving a boat will be the same for driving a car.

“It really helps us to enforce at the boat ramps when they're coming off the lake,” Peck said.

The penalties for driving a boat drunk also increase with the new law.

A first-time offender will face two days in jail, a $1,000 fine and may be banned from operating a boat for up to one year.

Until the new law goes into effect, conservation officers say they'll be reminding people of the change.

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