Pennsylvania’s Boating and Alcohol Laws
Pennsylvania’s boating and alcohol laws require that no person shall operate any boat on Pennsylvania waters while they are under the influence of alcohol, drugs or a combination thereof. Alcohol is prohibited on land and water at all state parks and at most U.S. Army Corps of Engineer projects.
In Pennsylvania, a person is considered to be under the influence if:
- They have a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) level of 0.08 or higher and are over 21 years of age
- They have a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of 0.02 and are under 21 years of age.
In Pennsylvania, a person convicted of operating a boat while under the influence will be subject to the following penalties: the loss of their boating privileges for up to one year, significant fines and imprisonment.
Implied Consent
Any person operating a boat on Pennsylvania waters shall be deemed to have given consent to a chemical test or tests of their breath, blood and urine for the purpose of determining the alcohol content of their blood and the presence of any abused substance or controlled dangerous substance. The testing may be required of a person when an officer has probable cause to believe the person is operating under the influence.
To learn more about boating and alcohol laws in the state of Pennsylvania visit https://www.fishandboat.com/Boat/BoatingRegulations/Pages/BoatingHandbook.aspx