Governor Blunt signed into law legislation Thursday that makes the blood-alcohol limit apply to boating as well as driving. House Bill 1715 lowers the legal blood-alcohol content level for boaters from .10 to .08. The law won't go into effect until August, but that shouldn't stop boaters from thinking about their alcohol consumption now.

If a patrolman smells alcohol, then the person must pass a sobriety test which includes reciting the alphabet and counting backwards.

Missouri water patrolman Dean Bartlett hopes the new limit increases safety on Missouri's waters.

"Most people thought that it was the same on water as on land, but it wasn't. Now it's changed to where it's the same on both, and hopefully it'll get people to think about taking that extra drink because it is so low," said Bartlett.

According to the Missouri Water Patrol, the Fourth of July weekend is one of the lake's busiest times.

The legislation also says anyone who causes a death while boating under intoxication can be found guilty of involuntary manslaughter.

Blunt says many of the boating accidents in the past three years involved alcohol and he hopes the new law will help.

Edited by Jaryd Wilson