Everyone is familiar with drunk driving, also known as DUII. But many are surprised to learn that it is a crime to operate a boat impaired: a BUII. The risk of a BUII charge grew in 2009 when the Court of Appeals issued a decision in State v. Lambert. In Lambert, a man had been floating down a river on a partially deflated plastic raft, which basically didn’t amount to much more than a floating water toy or inflatable lounge chair. Along behind him, in the water, he drug a six pack of beer, and he was admittedly intoxicated while on the river.

At this point, I want to point out that I grew up in Southern Oregon. The actions described in Lambert, floating down a river on a hot day with a beer, perfectly describes what I grew up watching people do. It pretty much was a summertime rite of passage around those rivers. But I suppose times change.

The importance of Lambert is that you don’t have to be in a big boat, with a motor, or even an oar to be charged with BUII. So use caution in your boating activities.