A new Colorado law that took effect this month places blood alcohol limits for boating under the influence (BUI) in line with limits for drunk driving, while leaving existing penalties for violations intact, the Coloradoan reported Aug. 10.

State lawmakers adopted legislation to reduce the blood alcohol level for BUI offenses from 0.10 to 0.08, in a move driven partly by the 2006 drowning of a 2-year-old boy who fell off a raft tied to a boat that was operated by his father, who had a blood alcohol level of 0.84 at the time of the incident.

"People aren't used to driving boats," said David Caughlan, district manager for the Horsetooth Reservoir area, a popular boating spot. "They're very fast, they have no brakes, and if something happens, you're in the water."

Individuals arrested for boating under the influence still will face misdemeanor charges that can bring five days to a year behind bars, a fine of $200 to $1,000, up to 96 hours of community service, and loss of boater operating privileges for three months.

About 25 BUI arrests occur annually in the state. According to state parks spokesperson Deb Frazier, 35 percent of boating accidents related to drinking result in a fatality.

The timing of the new law coincides with stepped-up enforcement efforts against drunk driving in the state. From Aug. 15 through the end of the Labor Day holiday weekend, law enforcement officials will intensify their pursuit of drunk drivers.