From TPWD:

10. May I have an open container on a boat?

Open containers are legal, but operators of boats are subject to boating while intoxicated laws, similar to driving a vehicle. Operators or passengers may also be subject to public intoxication laws. Drinking and boating is DANGEROUS and the cause of most boating fatalities.


Can the driver be drinking and driving or just the passangers can have an open container?

I have never had an issue while driving a boat and partaking in an adult beverage. So long as you aren't drunk and endagering yourself or others, you aren't going to get bothered.

Like most other things, if you are responsible and not acting stupid, LEOs are going to worry about those that are acting stupid or dangerous.

Check the local laws as well. The lake I grew up wake boarding on did not allow alcohol.

Perfectly fine to drink a beer while driving a boat. I do it often, but not to the point of intoxication. The wardens and coasties don't have any problem with it as long as you are not acting like a dumbass.

I'll be on Lake Travis next month. The wording from TPWD was a little iffy to me. I do not think that it is illegal for the driver to be drinking.

While they don't give a legal limit etc. on the boat operator, I have seen many a boating enthusiast get stopped on the water and released only to get a DWI/DUI once they jump in the truck to load the boat up. Generally if you're a passenger, no worries, if your driving, may not be worth the risk and liability.

Boat = .08, Vehicle = .08.


However, you can be drinking while operating the boat, as well has having open containers or passengers drinking.

I boat on Conroe alot, and every weekend from memorial day to labor day there are 2-3 floating parties on the lake all day long.

The various law enforcement jurisdictions are always sure to make a stop by, and spot and ticket drunks making asses of themselves, and they will bag you if you are operating unsafely.

Also, they stake out the ramps as well.

Be responsible, and you won't have a problem. I've never helmed my boat when intoxicated.

quote:

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grew up wake boarding

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Young whippersnappers!

More on point, many of you guys know that I live about a driver (okay, at least two drivers for me) away from Lake Lewisville. When I'm on this lake, I never drink. Not because I can't have one beer and handle myself, but because that fraction of a second on this God-forsaken lake could be the difference between life and death with some of the boaters out here.

That said, if I'm out in East Texas, it's a slightly different story. I've been known to anchor and take a dang nap on Lake of the Pines!

It is not illegal for the driver of the boat to be drinking. Driving a boat while drunk is illegal. They normally will not do a sobriety test unless you are obviously drunk or they see you do something stupid and suspect that you are drunk.

Be polite, say "Yes Sir" and "No Sir", don't do anything or allow anyone else in the boat to do anything stupid and you should be fine.

<Don't you take that tone with me young man!

They also have absolutely no problem randomly pulling boats over to check your level of sobriety.

If you're coming out of your local "party cove" area expect to be scrutinized more severely than on other parts of the lake. Obviously.

[This message has been edited by p_bubel (edited 4/6/2011 11:17a).]

I'm older than my handle implies. And I've probably spent as much time standing at the front of a bass boat as I have being dragged behind a ski boat.

[This message has been edited by IsleAg11 (edited 4/6/2011 11:21a).]

I'm older than my handle implies. And I've probably spent as much time standing at the front of a bass boat as I have being dragged behind a ski boat.

I'm just giving you ****. I'm laughing because I have a cabinet full of kneeboards and slalom skis, and all the kids want to do these days is effing wakeboard.

Been out on Lake Travis a lot and have never had an issue of an open container. Most of the time though I am with my parents and/ or grandparents on a pontoon so we don't fit the stereotypical types that get pulled over

Terk - Be careful when you mention East Texas...

We have a place on small lake in the Piney Woods, and you may be surprised with the acts of one particular GW out there. I will say it has gotten better over the last year, but the GW was going to extreme measures trying to bag people.

I'm all for GW on lakes patrolling dangerous boaters - especially jet skiers. However, this one in particular was literally stopping every boat, and then driving in the coves checking out people on the piers. It quickly became a hot topic around the lake and eventually complaints were filed.

I'm certainly not here to bash GW, all other GW's I've come in contact with while hunting, fishing, and boating, have all been professional and easy to talk to.

FWIW, I haven't seen that particular warden on the lake since that summer in '09. Not sure if it was due to the complaints, but it sounds like he was moved to a different area.

Hunter, we must be talking about the same guy. I was with some buddies on Caddo a few years ago. We got randomly boarded. Our driver wasn't even close to .08, but the GW didn't like the fact that beer was on board. My buddy consented to a field sobriety test on the boat(which is a preposterously stupid concept) and was arrested on the spot.

It took us hours to get him out of custody and ended our day at the lake real fast.

I hope that fool got transferred to Muleshoe or some other fine area of the state.

Wow, that charge probably got tossed in a nanosecond by the judge...

dsvogel05,

I am out on Lake Austin and Travis once a week with drinks on board and only pulled over once ever (for none drinking reasons). Not sure what type of boat you will be out on or what your outing will consist of (cruising, straight to the party cove, finding a quite place to anchor and drink) However, as Mouth and ghollow have said follow these and you will be good:

1. Don't be a jack***.
2. Don't bong a beer in front of the police boat.
3. Don't let your passangers be a jack***.
4. Sound is the biggest tipping point right now so don't be the loudest boat in the area.
5. Don't be a jack***.

I am not sure which GW you are referring to on Caddo, but we now have two new GW's in Harrison Co. I have gotten to know all of the old ones, and can't think of any with chips on their shoulders. Could possibly be from another county, also.

It'll be me and some old college friends. I'm the stupid one that said I would be the driver. We'll be tubbing, just wanted to know if it were ok to have a beer while driving.

Off subject, do you know of anyone besides Just for Fun that rents boats on Travis?