Connecticut General Statutes
Chapter 268 - Boating
Section 15-140l. - Reckless operation of a vessel in the first degree while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs.

(a) A person commits the offense of reckless operation of a vessel in the first degree while under the influence when, while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug, or both, or while such person has an elevated blood alcohol content, such person operates a vessel at such speed or maneuvers a vessel in such a manner as to result in (1) serious physical injury to another person, or (2) damage to property in excess of two thousand dollars.

(b) Any person guilty of reckless operation of a vessel in the first degree while under the influence shall be fined not less than two thousand five hundred dollars or more than five thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than two years, or both, and such person's safe boating certificate, certificate of personal watercraft operation or right to operate a vessel that requires a safe boating certificate shall be suspended by the commissioner in accordance with the provisions of section 15-133.
(P.A. 89-388, S. 12, 27; P.A. 03-244, S. 2; P.A. 04-257, S. 25; P.A. 09-140, S. 2; P.A. 10-32, S. 158; P.A. 11-74, S. 1.)
History: P.A. 03-244 amended Subsec. (a) to include the offense of operating a vessel with an elevated blood alcohol level, make technical changes and increase the property damage amount from $1,000 to $2,000 and amended Subsec. (b) to increase the minimum fine from $500 to $2,500, the maximum fine from $1,000 to $5,000 and the maximum imprisonment period from one year to two years; P.A. 04-257 made a technical change in Subsec. (b), effective June 14, 2004; P.A. 09-140 amended Subsec. (a)(1) by removing element of death of another person, effective July 1, 2009; P.A. 10-32 amended Subsec. (a) to delete “level” re blood alcohol content, effective May 10, 2010; P.A. 11-74 amended Subsec. (b) by adding provision re suspension of safe boating certificate, certificate of personal watercraft operation or right to operate a vessel that requires a safe boating certificate, effective July 1, 2011.
See Sec. 15-132a re manslaughter in the second degree with a vessel.

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