Bill targets underage drinking on the water

Less than a year after a Barrington boy died in an alcohol-related boating accident in that town, Bristol Representative Ray Gallison will soon submit legislation which would provide for harsh penalties for minors found to be under the influence on the water.

The legislation was borne out of necessity, he said, and was prompted by the Bristol Substance Abuse Task Force following results of a survey it commissioned that found that teen drinking is a widespread, and common, problem in Bristol.

"In Rhode Island there is no specific penalty for a person under 21 operating a motorcraft," said Rep. Gallison. "Being on the water magnifies the alcohol affect and the safety to operate a boat."

Following his discussions with task force members, Rep. Gallison began investigating legislation in other states. He became especially interested in a New York statute that provides harsh penalties, and decided to create similar legislation for Rhode Island.

Rep. Gallison is currently drafting a three-part bill that he says will be "a good tool to the police and a good tool to curb underage drinking."

The bill will require that people under 21 caught operating a boat, waverunner, jetski, hovercraft, or any other motorcraft under the influence will lose their boating certification card as well as their driver's license. "The registration of the boat they were operating would also be suspended," said Rep. Gallison.

The bill also aims to change the charge for operating a boat while intoxicated.

"Right now the first offense for operating a boat under the influence is a civil violation, I think we should make that a felony first time out," he said.

Rhode Island law mandates that a person under the age of 21 with a blood alcohol count of .02 percent or greater is intoxicated. The same rule will apply to underage drinkers operating a motorcraft.

Sean Sullivan, an assistant harbormaster in Bristol who serves as liaison to the substance abuse task force, strongly supports Rep. Gallison's efforts.

"This is a good proactive step Bristol is taking to ensure the safety of our waters," he said.

Though there have not been many incidents of teens operating motorcrafts while intoxicated in Bristol, Mr. Sullivan said filing legislation is a good proactive measure.

"Just because we have not had a problem does not mean it can't happen."

The bill will be specifically aimed at people under 21. However, offenders over 21 will lose the registration of the boat they are operating if they're found in violation of the law.

"We can't have tunnel vision to the fact that teens are not the only ones using, it is the general population," said Mr. Sullivan.

Rep. Gallison expects to have the new bill drafted and introduced to the House this week. He is hoping that he can get Senator Walter S. Felag to sponsor the bill in the Senate.

"He has as keen an interest as I do in trying to curb underage drinking," said Rep. Gallison.

"It is defiantly a problem," he said. "It is just as unsafe to drive a boat intoxicated as it is to drive a car."

By Dee DeQuattro

Special to the Bristol Phoenix

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