Boating is just like driving a car it’s governed by laws and those who violate those laws can be arrested, prosecuted and fined or jailed.

This means that boaters need to be careful and obey the law just like drivers have to. Just because a person is in a boat doesn’t mean that they have to obey the law or operate it in a safe manner. Boaters who behave badly can be committing a crime called reckless operation.

A person who operates a boat in a reckless manner such as going to fast or showing disregard for other boaters can be cited for a first degree misdemeanor called reckless operation.

A misdemeanor in Florida can be punished by up to one year in jail, a $1,000 fine or a year of probation. A misdemeanor can also lead to a permanent record that can affect a person’s ability to get jobs in the future. Such a criminal record can be sealed or expunged from the criminal record but that could involve spending several thousand dollars to hire a lawyer.

Boaters in Florida should be careful not to operate their craft in a reckless manner. Boaters should also be careful not to commit an infraction called careless operation. Fortunately for boaters reckless operation is considered a non criminal infraction in Florida so it’s not legally a crime.

Careless operation means that a boater is not paying attention to other boats, ignoring posted regulations or ignoring signs such as a divers’ down flag. Any boater who’s having a good time on the water could conceivably commit this crime so boaters should be careful not to commit it.

Florida boaters are also required to obey the Federal Rules of Navigation. Not obeying those rules is also considered careless operation in Florida.

It is illegal for a person who has been convicted of two non-criminal boating infractions in a year to operate a boat in the state of Florida. To get their boating privileges restored such a person must complete a State approved boater education course. The person must file proof that they’ve completed this course with the Florida Wildlife Commission’s Boating and Waterways Section to get their boating rights reinstated.

It is also illegal to operate a boat under the influence of alcohol or drugs in Florida. In Florida a boater is considered to be under the influence if his or blood alcohol level is .08 or above. A person who has a breath alcohol level of .02 and is over 21 years old is also considered under the influence in Florida.

Boating under the influence in Florida can be punished by a fine of $250-$500 for the first offense and a fine of $500-$1,000 for the second offense. A boater under the influence can also face up to six months in jail on the first conviction and 9 months in jail on the second conviction.