Operation of Watercraft by Intoxicated or Drugged Person Prohibited.

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41-13-206. Operation of watercraft by intoxicated or drugged person prohibited.

(a) As used in this section:

(i) "Alcohol concentration" means as defined in W.S. 31-5-233(a)(i);

(ii) "Controlled substance" includes:

(A) Any drug or substance defined by W.S. 35-7-1002(a)(iv);

(B) Any glue, aerosol or other toxic vapor which when intentionally inhaled or sniffed results in impairment of an individual's ability to safely operate a watercraft.

(b) No owner of any watercraft or person having charge or control of a watercraft shall authorize or knowingly permit it to be operated by any person who is under the influence of alcohol, a controlled substance or combination thereof in violation of subsection (c) of this section.

(c) No person shall operate or be in actual physical control of a watercraft if the person:

(i) To a degree which renders him incapable of safely operating a watercraft:

(A) Is under the influence of alcohol;

(B) Is under the influence of a controlled substance; or

(C) Is under the influence of a combination of the elements named in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of this paragraph.

(ii) Has an alcohol concentration of eight one-hundredths of one percent (0.08%) or more if the watercraft is a motorboat.

(iii) Repealed by Laws 2020, ch. 87, § 3.

(d) In any criminal prosecution for a violation of this section relating to operating or being in actual physical control of a watercraft while under the influence of alcohol, the amount of alcohol in the defendant's blood at the time alleged as shown by chemical analysis of the defendant's blood, urine, breath or other bodily substance shall give rise to the following presumptions:

(i) If there was at that time an alcohol concentration of five one-hundredths of one percent (0.05%) or less, it shall be presumed that the defendant was not under the influence of alcohol;

(ii) If there was at that time an alcohol concentration of more than five one-hundredths of one percent (0.05%) and less than eight one-hundredths of one percent (0.08%) if the watercraft is a motorboat, that fact shall not give rise to any presumption that the defendant was or was not under the influence of alcohol, but it may be considered with other competent evidence in determining the guilt or innocence of the defendant.

(e) Nothing in subsection (d) of this section shall be construed as limiting the introduction of any other competent evidence bearing upon the question of whether or not the defendant was under the influence of alcohol. The fact that any person charged with a violation of subsection (c) of this section is or has been entitled to use the controlled substance under the laws of this state shall not constitute a defense against any charge under this section. It is an affirmative defense to a violation of paragraph (c)(iii) of this section that the defendant consumed a sufficient quantity of alcohol after the time of actual operation or physical control of a watercraft and before the administration of the evidentiary test to cause the defendant's alcohol concentration to exceed eight one-hundredths of one percent (0.08%) if the watercraft is a motorboat, but evidence of the consumption may not be admitted unless notice is given to the prosecution pursuant to Rule 12.1 of the Wyoming Rules of Criminal Procedure.

(f) Repealed by Laws 1989, ch. 119, § 3.

(g) Nothing in this section shall be construed to authorize a violation of the Wyoming controlled substances act.


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