The North Carolina House has passed a bill which is called Sheyenne’s Law.
Sheyenne was a 17 year old girl who died in 2015 when hit by a boater who was drunk on Lake Norman in North Carolina. A drunken boater swerved to miss another boat and hit her, killing her outright.
The bill, which was sponsored by Larry Pitman, increases the penalties for driving a boat when drunk to the same as driving a road vehicle, and according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, even a tiny amount of alcohol which results in a Blood Alcohol Count of 0.05% can increase accident risks.
Under the current law, if you are convicted of boating while drunk it is just a misdemeanor but under the new law if death or injury results then that will be a felony. Sentencing will depend on a range of factors but the drunk boater will definitely be spending more time in jail.
If your loved one has been injured in an auto or motorcycle accident or boating accident in Asheville, please call the Dan Pruitt Injury Law Firm accident attorneys (864) 280-7660 or contact us online today.
