2023 Delaware Code › Title 23 - Navigation and Waters › Chapter 23. OPERATION OF A VESSEL OR BOAT WHILE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF INTOXICATING LIQUOR AND/OR DRUGS › § 2305. Penalties; jurisdiction.

§ 2305. Penalties; jurisdiction.
Whoever is convicted of a violation of § 2302 of this title shall:
(1) For the first offense, be fined not less than $200 nor more than $1,000, or imprisoned not less than 60 days nor more than 6 months, or both.
(2) For a second offense occurring within 5 years from a prior offense, be fined not less than $500 nor more than $2,000 and imprisoned not less than 60 days nor more than 18 months. No person sentenced under this paragraph shall receive a suspended sentence.
(3) For a third offense occurring within 5 years from a prior offense, be guilty of a class G felony, be fined not less than $1,000 nor more than $3,000 and imprisoned not less than 1 year nor more than 2 years. The provisions of § 4205(b)(7) or § 4217 of Title 11 or any other statute to the contrary notwithstanding, the first 3 months of the sentence shall not be suspended, but shall be served at Level V and shall not be subject to an early release, furlough or reduction of any kind. No conviction for violation of this chapter for which a sentence is imposed pursuant to this paragraph shall be considered a predicate felony conviction for sentencing pursuant to § 4214 of Title 11. No offense for which sentencing pursuant to this subsection is applicable shall be considered an underlying felony for a murder in the first-degree charge pursuant to § 636(a)(2) of Title 11.
(4) For a fourth or subsequent offense occurring any time after 3 prior offenses, be guilty of a class E felony, be fined not less than $2,000 nor more than $6,000 and imprisoned not less than 2 years nor more than 5 years. The provisions of this title or any other statute notwithstanding, a court may consider prior offenses outside a 5-year period for sentencing pursuant to this paragraph. The provisions of § 4205(b)(5) or § 4217 of Title 11 or any other statute to the contrary notwithstanding, the first 6 months of the sentence shall not be suspended, but shall be served at Level V and shall not be subject to any early release, furlough or reduction of any kind. No conviction for violation of this chapter for which a sentence is imposed pursuant to this paragraph shall be considered a predicate felony conviction for sentencing pursuant to § 4214 of Title 11. No offense for which sentencing pursuant to this paragraph is applicable shall be considered an underlying felony for a murder in the first-degree charge pursuant to § 636(a)(2) of Title 11.
(5) In addition to the penalties otherwise authorized by this section, a person convicted of a violation of § 2302(a) of this title, committed while a person who has not yet reached that person's seventeenth birthday is on or in the vessel shall:
a. For the first offense, be fined an additional minimum of $200 and not more than an additional $1,000 and sentenced to perform a minimum of 40 hours of community service in a program benefiting children.
b. For each subsequent like offense, be fined an additional minimum of $500 and not more than an additional $2,000 and sentenced to perform a minimum of 80 hours of community service in a program benefiting children.
c. Violation of this paragraph shall be considered as an aggravating circumstance for sentencing purposes for a person convicted of a violation of § 2302(a) of this title. Nothing in this paragraph shall prevent conviction for a violation of both § 2302(a) of this title and any offense as defined elsewhere by the laws of this State.
d. Violation of or sentencing pursuant to this paragraph shall not be considered as evidence of either comparative or contributory negligence in any civil suit or insurance claim, nor shall a violation of or sentencing pursuant to this paragraph be admissible as evidence in the trial of any civil action.
(6) A person who has been convicted of prior or previous offenses under this chapter need not be charged as a subsequent offender in the complaint, information or indictment against the person in order to render the person liable for the punishment imposed by this chapter on a person with prior or previous offenses under this chapter. However, if at any time after conviction and before sentence, it shall appear to the Attorney General or to the sentencing court that by reason of such conviction and prior or previous convictions, a person should be subjected to paragraph (3) or (4) of this section, the Attorney General shall file a motion to have the defendant sentenced pursuant to those provisions. If it shall appear to the satisfaction of the Court at a hearing on the motion that the defendant falls within paragraph (3) or (4) of this section, the Court shall enter an order declaring the offense for which the defendant is being sentenced to be a felony and shall impose a sentence accordingly.
(7) The Justice of the Peace Courts shall have jurisdiction for violations of this chapter, except those offenses which must be sentenced pursuant to paragraph (3) or (4) of this section.
(8) In addition to the penalties prescribed in paragraphs (2), (3) and (4) of this section, anyone convicted of a subsequent like offense shall be ordered to complete a program of education or rehabilitation which may include inpatient treatment and be followed by such other programs as established by the training facility, not to exceed a total of 15 months, and pay a fee not to exceed the maximum fine.
67 Del. Laws, c. 216, §  2;  70 Del. Laws, c. 186, §  1;  70 Del. Laws, c. 565, §  6;