Leave Iowa’s laws on drinking while boating alone

By Globe Gazette

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With the arrival of Iowa's busy boating season, some Department of Natural Resources law enforcement officials say they would like to see tougher laws related to alcohol use - laws similar to those for highway drivers.

We think that idea doesn't float, and apparently - and thankfully - top DNR officials feel the same way.

Now, don't get us wrong. The last thing we want to see is a bunch of drunken boaters tearing around on our lakes and rivers, putting themselves and others in jeopardy.

The Iowa Legislature addressed that by imposing an 0.08 blood alcohol limit on boat operators, the same limit as on highway drivers.

Still, some DNR enforcement officials say it's inconsistent that boat operators can legally drink while driving - something you can't do on streets and highways - and that open containers are allowed in boats, which also is illegal in vehicles on land.

“Boating and alcohol do not mix,” said Jennifer Lancaster, DNR law enforcement supervisor for northeast Iowa. “I think it would be great if boaters could not drink at all.”

Like designated drivers on our highways, Lancaster said the DNR has been encouraging designated boat operators who abstain from alcohol.

But again, we see a vast difference in the two.

Highway driving often puts vehicles just inches from being on a collision course. While lakes may be busy, especially on holiday weekends, boats do not operate within lane constrictions as they do on the highway.

Certainly, there's more traffic around docks and loading/unloading areas, but the blood alcohol limit on drivers should go a long way in keeping those areas safer.

Plus, we think that tradition and personal enjoyment are factors here. Many boaters, whether going on the water to party, sightsee, cruise around or fish, enjoy having an adult beverage while they're out. We can see boating use declining noticeably, thus affecting marinas that sell supplies and even boat dealers, if the freedom to enjoy a brew or two were taken away.

The DNR has no immediate plans to ask the Legislature to change boating laws. Instead, said spokesman Kevin Baskins, educational campaigns are in the works. Certainly, reminders about responsible use never hurt - along with reminders that wind, wave action, sun and glare can magnify the intoxicating effects of alcohol.

Last year, 54 boaters were cited for boating while intoxicated, and the DNR recorded 38 boating accidents last year, well below the annual average of 54.

Of 23 boating fatalities recorded from 2006 through 2010, 13 involved alcohol, according to the DNR. While regrettable, given the thousands of people who boat those numbers hardly cry out for a change in the law.

Education and responsibility, yes. Boaters have to understand they're behind the wheel of a potentially dangerous vehicle, just like they are when they're on the highways.

But changing the laws to ban alcohol altogether seems like a solution looking for a problem. And this is not nearly a big enough problem to restrict something people enjoy greatly during Iowa's summers.

As is the case with driving on our highways, boaters on our waterways should drink responsibly to make this great leisuretime activity more enjoyable and safer for everyone. And those who don't, well, remember, the DNR is watching.