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Boating While Intoxicated Lawyer in St. Louis

Call Combs Waterkotte to Protect Your Rights

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Last Updated: June 3, 2025

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Boating While Intoxicated Attorney in St Louis: Protecting Your Future

Boating While Intoxicated Attorney in St Louis:
Protecting Your Future

Combs Waterkotte is the leading criminal defense and traffic firm serving St. Louis and the entire state of Missouri. Our criminal defense attorneys will fight for your freedom, your rights, and will not give up until you get fair justice. Our exceptional record and over 350 reviews speak for themselves. Whether you have been charged with a crime or ticket, we can help.



What is BWI in Missouri?

What is BWI in Missouri?

With over 110,000 miles of rivers and streams in Missouri, along with an estimated 568 lakes and hundreds more ponds and marshes, boating is obviously one of the favorite pastimes. However, it’s important to remember that operating a boat while under the influence of alcohol or drugs can result in serious legal consequences.

Boating while intoxicated (BWI) is treated similarly to driving while intoxicated (DWI) in Missouri, carrying penalties that can affect your freedom, finances, and ability to operate a boat. If you’ve been charged with a BWI, having an experienced criminal defense attorney by your side is crucial to protecting your rights and future. The Combs Waterkotte legal team has more than 40 years of experience and has successfully handled over 10,000 cases just like yours.

You don't have to go through this alone. Contact one of our lawyers today at (314) 900-HELP to protect your future.

According to Missouri Revised Statute § 577.013, boating while intoxicated (BWI) occurs if you operate a motorized watercraft under the influence of alcohol or drugs. That state prohibits anyone from operating a boat with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08% or higher, the same legal limit for DWI. If law enforcement suspects you are operating a boat while impaired, you could be stopped, tested, and arrested just like you would if driving a car on the road.

Missouri’s BWI laws apply to motorized vessels, sailboats, personal watercraft (jet skis, waverunners, etc.), and surfboards. They do not apply to kayaks, canoes, or rowboats.

DWI/DUI Defense Attorneys Missouri - Criminal Defense Attorneys for DWIs
What are the Penalties for BWI in Missouri?

What are the Penalties for BWI in Missouri?

A BWI carries significant penalties in Missouri, especially if it’s not your first offense. It is a class B misdemeanor if it’s your first offense, but a class A misdemeanor if you have been previously convicted of BWI or there is an individual less than 17 years of age in the vessel.

Just like DWI convictions, the BWI laws have the same penalties for persistent, aggravated, chronic, and habitual offenders. A BWI is:

  • A class E felony if you’re a persistent boating offender or if, while boating intoxicated, you acted with criminal negligence to cause physical injury to another person.
  • A class D felony if you’re an aggravated boating offender or if, while boating intoxicated, you acted with criminal negligence to cause physical injury to law enforcement officer or emergency personnel, or serious physical injury to another person.
  • A class C felony if you’re a chronic boating offender or if, while boating intoxicated, you acted with criminal negligence to cause serious physical injury to a law enforcement officer or emergency personnel, or the death of another person.
  • A class B felony if you’re a habitual boating offender or if, while boating intoxicated, you acted with criminal negligence to cause the death of a law enforcement officer or emergency personnel.
Call Combs Waterkotte to Defend Your BWI Charge in Missouri

Call Combs Waterkotte to Defend Your BWI Charge in Missouri

If you’ve been charged with BWI in Missouri, don’t hesitate getting the legal help you need. Call Combs Waterkotte immediately at (314) 900-HELP or reach out online for a free, confidential consultation with an expert BWI defense attorney.

To learn more about Combs Waterkotte's Missouri DWI/DUI defense and types of cases see below:


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How Can a Boating While Intoxicated Lawyer Help Me in St. Louis, MO?
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How Can a Boating While Intoxicated Lawyer Help Me in St. Louis, MO?

We understand that good people find themselves in unfortunate situations. Combs Waterkotte’s St. Louis boating while intoxicated defense team is dedicated to defending our clients’ rights and achieving the best possible solution for them and their families. If you’re charged with a boating while intoxicated, contact a lawyer immediately.

What a Combs Waterkotte BWI Lawyer Does:

  • Protects your legal rights
  • Identifies weaknesses in the prosecution’s case
  • Minimizes penalties
  • Navigates complex BWI laws

What Happens Without a Combs Waterkotte BWI Lawyer:

  • Increased risk of conviction
  • Inability to notice weaknesses in the prosecution’s case
  • Harsher penalties
  • Permanent damage to your record

  • DWI

    Charge

    DWI

    Result

    Not Guilty Verdict

    Combs Waterkotte represented a Robertsville, MO man on a felony charge of DWI. At trial, we challenged the way the officer conducted his standardized field so …

    Charge

    DWI

    Result

    Not Guilty Verdict

  • DWI

    Charge

    DWI

    Result

    Dismissed

    Combs Waterkotte represented a college student on a DWI charge. During the administrative hearing, which deals with license suspension, we challenged the arre …

    Charge

    DWI

    Result

    Dismissed

  • DWI

    Charge

    DWI

    Result

    Dismissed

    Combs Waterkotte represented a Franklin County woman felony DWI. After conducting a thorough investigation and taking the arresting officer's deposition, the …

    Charge

    DWI

    Result

    Dismissed

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    The Importance of Expertise in BWI Defense in Missouri

    The Importance of Expertise in BWI Defense in Missouri

    Our Combs Waterkotte attorneys understand Missouri’s boating laws and how to defend you effectively. Your BWI lawyer will:

    • Challenge tests: Like DWIs, BAC and breathalyzer accuracy can be disputed, and water conditions may invalidate field sobriety tests.
    • Review your arrest: We’ll examine your case for rights violations or procedural errors.
    • Negotiate outcomes: We work to reduce or dismiss charges by identifying weak points in the case.
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    Combs Waterkotte BWI Defense Attorneys Have Access to Critical Resources

    Combs Waterkotte BWI Defense Attorneys Have Access to Critical Resources

    Winning a BWI case often requires key resources such as:

    • Maritime Law Experts: We use specialists familiar with boating laws and regulations.
    • Toxicologists: Experts may challenge BAC results or show your boating ability wasn’t impaired.
    • Private Investigators: Our team gathers evidence, finds witnesses, and uncovers police errors.
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    Client-Centered Attention from Skilled Missouri BWI Defense Attorneys

    Client-Centered Attention from Skilled Missouri BWI Defense Attorneys

    At Combs Waterkotte, we go beyond legal skill to provide personalized care, including:

    • Clear Communication: We keep you updated and explain your legal options throughout your case.
    • Compassionate Support: We guide and support you every step of the way.
    • Tailored Strategies: Your defense is custom-built to fit the specifics of your BWI case.
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    Why You Need to Hire a Combs Waterkotte BWI Lawyer to Protect Your Future

    Why You Need to Hire a Combs Waterkotte BWI Lawyer to Protect Your Future

    A BWI conviction can impact your life, finances, and boating privileges. With our proven success in BWI defense, Combs Waterkotte is ready to fight for your future—whether by challenging evidence, negotiating with prosecutors, or defending you in court.

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