DNR expects drunken boating arrests to increase

State officials expect that arrests of intoxicated boaters will increase under the new, lower blood alcohol standard taking effect Friday.

“Initially, I do believe the number of arrests will increase under the new law,” said Susan Stocker, boating law administrator and education coordinator for the Department of Natural Resources.

The new .08 blood alcohol concentration, signed into law this spring, is intended to reduce vessel accidents, injuries and fatalities caused by alcohol impaired boat operators. The previous blood alcohol limit was .10.

Stocker said about 250 boating while intoxicated arrests have been made in Iowa since 2004, when the state began tracking that statistic.

During that time, she said, the DNR has handled about 20 cases per year in which a boat operator tested above the new standard but lower than the former standard.

Stocker said the DNR does not advocate a total ban on drinking alcohol while boating.

“We are not against enjoying a beverage responsibly, but we want a sober driver,” she said.

During the past five years, the state has recorded 23 boating fatalities, of which 13 were alcohol related.

The DNR and other law enforcement agencies will be patrolling rivers and lakes during the Fourth of July weekend, she said.