Boat operator OUI kills two, gets two years in jail

[IRGuy]

Boat operator gets two years in jail for operating under the influence, hitting a barge near Tappan Zee Bridge, and killing two passengers...

At almost twice the legal limit, operating at night, boat operator kills bride to be and best man,, .. ultimate stupidity.


http://www.aol.com/article/2014/09/16/n ... d%3D529767

[Navatech]

A sad story to be sure but who, in his right mind, gets in a car (or boat) when you know the driver is UI?!...

[Bertramp]

I gotta think that they were all partying together ........

[Navatech]

I gotta think that they were all partying together ........

And I think you're right... Nevertheless, the families will sue... Where did the concept of "personal responsibility" go?!...

[mike ohlstein]

They sue because they can. They sue because they win any way it goes. The insurance companies and the State will settle for some amount less than it will cost to defend themselves from a frivolous lawsuit.

We need some tort reform in this country, and we need it badly. If there was some financial risk associated with losing a suit like this, fewer suits would be filed and we would all be better off.

[Bertramp]

I lived in Westchester and Dutchess Counties for a bit and boated on the Hudson. Although it is a river, it is a large body of water and the real kicker can be the commercial traffic, which as we know is large and can't usually stop until they have mowed you down. But, if you don't see them, either they were not lit up or it was crazy lack of visibility or someone was "blind drunk or stoned"

[mike ohlstein]

Never go faster than you can see. That's the bottom line.

[IRGuy]

When I took the course to get my license one of the first things the instructor told us is in cases of reduced visibility (rain, smoke, fog, darkness, etc, etc) was to reduce your speed until you could be sure to stop within the distance you could see.

[Carl]

When I took the course to get my license one of the first things the instructor told us is in cases of reduced visibility (rain, smoke, fog, darkness, etc, etc) was to reduce your speed until you could be sure to stop within the distance you could see.

They are trying to sue the barge owners as it was not "Lit" up and they " he could not see it.

Barge was properly "Lit"...it wasn't "lit" like a Booze Cruise Party Charter with Flood lights blaring...but it shouldn't have to be.

As said you travel as fast as you can see...if he couldn't see the barge he was going too fast...If he couldn't pickup on the anchor/ navigation lights...he didn't know the rules of the road...or did and too drunk to care...


I think the fact he was drunk and admitted to smoking marijuana kinda explains why he hit the barge at speed at night.
Tragic avoidable accident that left several people dead...unfortunately the ones who died are the same ones who could have prevented their own death.

[Navatech]

I apologize if this sounds harsh but this is Darwinism at work!... You do stupid things (like getting into a car/boat) with an operator who's obviously UI) and your genes do not get to make it into the next generation... IMHO, the "victims" were first and foremost victims of their own failure to act responsibly!...

If I know I'm going to operate a vehicle/boat I will limit myself to 2 "adult beverages"... In fact, unless I know for sure I'm not going to be going anywhere I'll apply that limit... And I'm definitely NOT going into a vehicle/boat operated by somebody who's UI!...

I don't care if anybody considers me a party pooper!...

Back when I was in my very early 20's one of my best friends and his boss (father of 2 kids) were killed by a DUI trucker... I swore back then I'd never be in a situation where I'd be in a vehicle while UI...

[Rickysa]

I really enjoy boating at night...cruise up to a restaurant at sunset for dinner and back home under the stars enjoying the lights of the city. That being said, I'll readily admit that my "night vision" isn't what I wish it was...so it's always a slow cruise home, and even then it can be hard to spot those folks on the water that don't realize one of their running lights happened to burn out last month.

Call me a nerd, but I take my NVD when we go...

[Navatech]

Call me a nerd, but I take my NVD when we go...

I'd rather call you prudent :-))... I too love the night... My night vision is (still?!.) pretty good but I have my radar working even when I'm just "cruise'n" the ICW... And I never go faster then I want to bump into anything... That means that when I'm on the ICW and visibility is restricted (night, fog etc) I'm usually just in FWD with, at most, a couple of hundred RPM's above idle...

[PeterPalmieri]

In our area in the summer there are many hot spots over at fire island. With speed boats that like to go fast at night. My favorite thing to do was to go fishing about 3:30am until sun up. It didn't take long to figure out that was a bad idea.

I don't remember reading about anyone dead this season but just about every year there is one fatal accident. It almost always involves alcohol. I run a dry boat, no drinking onboard ever.

[Navatech]

I run a dry boat, no drinking onboard ever.

It's your boat so you run it whichever way you want to and I'm sure you have your own valid reasons... Having said that, personally I believe that's a bit too harsh... I make sure that there's at least one additional responsible adult besides me who's sober (legally and otherwise)... The rest can have more then 2 drinks... But, I also don't allow people to get really drunk either... The one exception I have is when there's even a possibility of bad weather on the way... Then everybody stays cold sober... Luckily none of my friends or family like to get blasted... Practically all are happy with one or two drinks and that's all they like... It's a social thing... Not crutch, refuge or whatever...

[PeterPalmieri]

I've made a few exceptions.

[Carl]

Two adult beverages can get you in trouble with the law... No opinions or viewpoint...jus saying.


Whatever the case this guy was drunk and high...intoxication way beyond anything we are talking about.


Driving at night...on a clear moonlit night....I "may" push it to just on plane. But I have to be able to see way beyond my stopping distance...I am not worried about boats, tugs ships as I can see miles away...especially at night with the lights...but the floating debris often found in the Bay keeps the speed cut back.

Nights with just okay visibility...1200rpm with my gassers gives me about 6-7-8mph...little more little less depending on conditions. Usual ride back from most areas is an hour or two. That is my expected timeline when running at night....but always a loose timeline. If I cannot get back later then it takes to do that...I do not go.

[Navatech]

Two adult beverages can get you in trouble with the law... No opinions or viewpoint...jus saying.

Are you sure about that?!... I have always thought that with two beers (standard size - not super sized), two glasses of wine or two shots of a distilled product you're still under the legal limit... And my pocket blood alcohol meter agrees... I even got to blow a police meter and that went fine too...

[TailhookTom]

Are you sure about that?!... I have always thought that with two beers (standard size - not super sized), two glasses of wine or two shots of a distilled product you're still under the legal limit... And my pocket blood alcohol meter agrees... I even got to blow a police meter and that went fine too...[


While you might not even be close to the legal limit, .01 can be operating under the influence -- because you aren't operating at .00.

Tom

[IRGuy]

I never drink anything containing alcohol while I am driving a car (I believe illegal in most states) or operating a boat (not sure about the law in any state). Accidents happen, and even if you are not at fault but have been seen to have consumed any amount of alcohol prior to an accident the suspicion is on you. I also believe different people have different responses to a given amount of alcohol. I suppose I can distill this issue in my mind by simply saying "Why take a chance?"

[Rawleigh]

Remember the civil component to this as well. The legal limit is a criminal matter. Negligence is not and any alcohol will count against you.

[Carl]

A 200lb man can blow a .04 (impaired) with two drinks. A little more or a little less depending on....

[Navatech]

A 200lb man can blow a .04 (impaired) with two drinks. A little more or a little less depending on....

I get what you're saying but when I say two drinks that's over the course of several hours so I (210-220) don't think I'll be blowing over 0.03...

[Carl]

Navatech...As I said, no judgements here.

But reality today, you sit at a light and somebody plows into you...but you had a little drink about an hour ago. The ramifications of getting into an accident and having alcohol at any level "can" be ridiculous. Impaired, or not...

[Navatech]

But reality today, you sit at a light and somebody plows into you...but you had a little drink about an hour ago. The ramifications of getting into an accident and having alcohol at any level "can" be ridiculous. Impaired, or not...

Seriously?!... You do nothing and you could be held responsible because you had an amount of alcohol?!... A legal amount at that?!... Sorry but to me that sounds like a lawyer running wild... I refuse to live my life according to such rules...

[mike ohlstein]

Case in point (pretty much).

http://www.aol.com/article/2014/09/24/s ... d%3D534977

[Navatech]

Case in point (pretty much).

I beg to differ... First, Marijuana is illegal... Second, he had consumed enough to be legally impaired... The scenario I'm discussing is where an adult has consumed a legal product at a level that does NOT constitute legally impaired...