If a person causes great bodily injury while boating under the influence, what is the consequence?

Causing great bodily injury while boating under the influence is treated as a serious criminal offense, reflecting the significant risk that impaired boating poses to public safety. When an individual operates a vessel while intoxicated and inflicts such harm on another person, this act is classified as a felony. Felonies carry more severe legal consequences than misdemeanors or infractions, often resulting in substantial fines, imprisonment, or both.

This classification serves to deter impaired boating behavior by underscoring the potential for severe legal ramifications. It also promotes accountability for actions that endanger others on the water. Understanding this serious consequence is crucial for boaters to appreciate the importance of sober operation of watercraft and the legal implications of their actions.