59-23-7 - Offenses and penalties.
§ 59-23-7. Offenses and penalties.
(1) It is unlawful for any person to operate a watercraft on the public waters of this state who:
(a) Is under the influence of intoxicating liquor;
(b) Is under the influence of any other substance which has impaired such person's ability to operate a watercraft; or
(c) Has ten one-hundredths percent (.10%) or more by weight volume of alcohol in the person's blood based upon milligrams of alcohol per one hundred (100) cubic centimeters of blood as shown by a chemical analysis of such person's breath, blood or urine administered as authorized by this chapter.
(2) (a) Upon conviction of any person for the first offense of violating subsection (1) of this section where chemical tests provided for under Section 59-23-5 were given, or where chemical test results are not available, such person shall be fined not less than Two Hundred Fifty Dollars ($250.00) nor more than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00), or imprisoned for not more than twenty-four (24) hours in jail, or both; and the court shall order such person to attend and complete a boating safety education course developed by the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks.
(b) Upon any second conviction of any person violating subsection (1) of this section, the offenses being committed within a period of five (5) years, such person shall be fined not less than Six Hundred Dollars ($600.00) nor more than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) and shall be imprisoned not less than forty-eight (48) consecutive hours nor more than one (1) year or sentenced to community service work for not less than ten (10) days nor more than one (1) year. The court shall order such person not to operate a watercraft for one (1) year.
(c) For any third conviction of any person violating subsection (1) of this section, the offenses being committed within a period of five (5) years, such person shall be fined not less than Eight Hundred Dollars ($800.00) nor more than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) and shall be imprisoned not less than thirty (30) days nor more than one (1) year. The court shall order such person not to operate a watercraft for two (2) years.
(d) Any fourth or subsequent violation of subsection (1) of this section shall be a felony offense and, upon conviction, the offenses being committed within a period of five (5) years, such person shall be fined not less than Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000.00) nor more than Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) and shall be imprisoned not less than ninety (90) days nor more than five (5) years in the state penitentiary. The court shall order such person not to operate a watercraft for three (3) years.
(3) Any person convicted of operating any watercraft in violation of subsection (1) of this section where the person (a) refused a law enforcement officer's request to submit to a chemical test, or (b) was unconscious at the time of a chemical test and refused to consent to the introduction of the results of such test in any prosecution, shall be punished consistent with the penalties prescribed herein for persons submitting to the test and the court shall order such person not to operate a watercraft for the time periods specified in subsection (2) of this section.
(4) Any person who operates any watercraft in violation of the provisions of subsection (1) of this section and who in a negligent manner causes the death of another or mutilates, disfigures, permanently disables or destroys the tongue, eye, lip, nose or any other member or limb of another shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a felony and shall be committed to the custody of the State Department of Corrections for a period of time not to exceed ten (10) years.
(5) Upon conviction of any violation of subsection (1) of this section, the judge shall cause a copy of the citation and any other pertinent documents concerning the conviction to be sent immediately to the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks. A copy of the citation or other pertinent documents, having been attested as true and correct by the Director of the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, or his designee, shall be sufficient proof of the conviction for purposes of determining the enhanced penalty for any subsequent convictions of violations of subsection (1) of this section.
Sources: Laws, 1995, ch. 620, § 4, eff from and after July 1, 1995.