LAKE OZARK - Missouri lawmakers are leveling the playing field when it comes to driving on the road and on boats. Starting Thursday, just in time for the holiday weekend, the rules of the road and the rules on the water will be identical.
Missouri is cracking down on boozing and boating.
A new state law makes the legal limit for blood alcohol 0.08, down from 0.10.
Charles Willits says the change is, "a long time coming."
Under the old law, boaters could be within the boating limit for blood alcohol content, but would be breaking the highway blood alcohol limit on the car ride home.
"I've seen a lot of crazy things. A lot of things that shouldn't be happening on the water," said Willits.
The change also comes in response to unsafe boating, particularily at the Lake of the Ozarks.
"Anytime you lower the threshold of how much influence alcohol has, it's going to make being on the water safe. National statistics show that in your fatality and serious boat accidents, over half of those have alcohol as a contributing factor," said Missouri Water Patrolman Jerry Callahan.
Missouri Water Patrol can even pull you over for a seating violation in your boat. They say it's worth it, though, to get boaters back to their dock safely.
The penalty for boating above the legal limit could be two-thousand dollars in court and lawyer fees.
To enforce the new law, all water patrol officers will be patroling the Lake of the Ozarks this holiday weekend.
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