Maryland's 'nick’s law' tightens penalties for boating under the influence

The Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) reported a significant reduction in boating accidents and no fatalities during the busiest boating holiday of the year, Independence Day weekend. This year’s “Operation Dry Water” resulted in nine arrests for Operating While Under the Influence of Alcohol (OUI), the highest since 2018, despite the overall decrease in boating incidents compared to previous years.

Launched in 2009, Operation Dry Water is a nationwide effort led by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators to enforce boating safety laws and reduce alcohol-related accidents. Maryland NRP has actively participated through “saturation patrols,” focusing on areas known for boating and drinking incidents.

This year also marks the enactment of “Nick’s Law” in Maryland as of July 1, 2024. This new regulation increases the penalties for OUI offenses, allowing courts to prohibit offenders from operating vessels for up to two years and up to five years if the offense results in a fatality. This is a significant increase from the previous maximum prohibitions of one and two years, respectively.

During the Operation Dry Water heightened enforcement period from July 4-6, several individuals were charged with OUI and other offenses, illustrating the variety of circumstances leading to such charges. These incidents ranged from collisions due to negligence to failures in meeting safety standards like proper navigation lighting.

The implementation of stricter laws such as Nick’s Law aims to further deter dangerous behaviors and ensure safer waterways throughout Maryland.

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