(Des Moines)– Debate over a bill that would lower the blood alcohol content limit to point-oh-eight for drunk boating…the same as for drunk driving…took on a new twist Wednesday evening in the Iowa house.
The original measure passed the Senate. But when it came up in the House last (Wed.) evening, an amendment was tacked on that would exempt boaters who use motors producing less than 10 horsepower.
Phil Petersen of the Iowa Great Lakes Water Safety Council says in effect, the amendment means a boat would have to be going fast enough to plane–atleast 20 miles-per-hour–before it would follow under the new guideline. He believes it’s an effort to kill the bill entirely.
Petersen says he was shocked to find the house had passed the bill with that amendment.
