Cuomo Signs Law Strengthening Penalties For Boating While Intoxicated

Governor Andrew Cuomo has signed "Tiffany Heitkamp's Law" -- legislation that strengthens penalties for boating while intoxicated offenses.

The bill requires courts to consider prior Driving While Intoxicated or Driving While Ability Impaired convictions when sentencing a person for Boating While Intoxicated.

Under current law, there is no linkage between prior DWI and DWAI offenses and BWI offenses.  The bill addresses this gap by linking these similar offenses and providing harsher penalties for repeat offenders.

“Whether behind the wheel of a car or a boat, drunk drivers are a danger to themselves and a menace to others,” Governor Cuomo said. “This new law closes this loophole and will help keep these dangerous individuals off our roads and waterways, avoiding more senseless tragedies.”

The bill is name after a young Syracuse-area woman who was killed in July 2006 while a passenger in a boat operated by an intoxicated person.

The individual operating the boat had a record of alcohol-related automobile incidents.