2023 Tennessee Code › Title 69 - WATERS, WATERWAYS, DRAINS AND LEVEES (§§ 69-1-101 — 69-11-127) › Chapter 9 - BOATING REGULATION (§§ 69-9-101 — 69-9-508) › Part 2 - BOATING SAFETY (§§ 69-9-201 — 69-9-228) › Section 69-9-217 - Boating under the influence

(a)
It is unlawful for any person or persons to operate any vessel subject to registration or any commercial vessel as defined in this section on the waters of Tennessee, as defined in § 69-9-204, while under the influence of any intoxicant, marijuana, narcotic drug, or drug producing stimulating effects on the central nervous system.
(b)
For the purpose of this section:
(1)
"Commercial vessel" means any vessel used or whose principal use is to carry passengers for hire for monetary or other consideration or any vessel used or whose principal use is to transport or to assist in the transportation of goods or services;
(2)
"Drugs producing stimulating effects on the central nervous system" includes any controlled substance, controlled substance analogue, drug, or combination of drug substances affecting the central nervous system, that impairs the person of the clearness of mind or the control of oneself that the person would otherwise possess; and
(3)
"Test" means any chemical test designed to determine the alcoholic or drug content of the blood.
(c)
The fact that any person who operates any vessel subject to registration or any commercial vessel as defined in this section on public waters of the state while under the influence of narcotic or barbital drugs is or has been entitled to use such drugs under the laws of this state is not a defense to the violation of this section.
(d)
(1)
Any person who operates any vessel subject to registration or any commercial vessel as defined in this section on the public waters of the state shall be determined to have consented to one (1) or more tests for the purpose of determining the alcoholic or drug content of the person's blood; provided, that any such test is administered at the direction of an officer having reasonable grounds to believe the person has been operating any vessel subject to registration or any commercial vessel as defined in this section while under the influence of an intoxicant or drug.
(2)
The specimen to be used for such test shall include blood, urine or breath.
(3)
Any physician, registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, clinical laboratory technologist, clinical laboratory technician, licensed paramedic or, notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, licensed emergency medical technician approved to establish intravenous catheters, technologist, or certified or nationally registered phlebotomist who, acting at the written request of an officer, withdraws blood from a person for the purpose of making such test, shall not incur any civil or criminal liability as a result of the withdrawing of such blood, except for any damages that may result from the negligence of the person so withdrawing. Neither the hospital nor other employer of such physician, registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, clinical technician, technologist, or certified or nationally registered phlebotomist, shall incur, except for negligence, any civil or criminal liability as a result of the act of withdrawing blood from any person submitting to such test.
(e)
(1)
An officer who requests that the person operating any vessel subject to registration or any commercial vessel as defined in this section submit to a test pursuant to this section for the purpose of determining the alcoholic or drug content of such person's blood shall, prior to conducting such test, advise the person that refusal to submit to such test will result in the suspension by the court of such person's privilege to operate any vessel subject to registration or any commercial vessel as defined in this section.
(2)
The court having jurisdiction of the offenses for which such person was placed under arrest does not have the authority to suspend the privilege of a person who refuses to submit to the test if such person was not advised of the consequences of such a refusal.
(f)
(1)
Except as may be required by a search warrant or other court order, if the person placed under arrest is requested by a law enforcement officer to submit to one (1) or more tests for the purpose of determining the alcoholic or drug content of the person's blood, including, but not limited to, one (1) or more breath tests or blood tests, or both types of tests, advised of the consequences for refusing to do so, and refuses to submit, then the operator shall be charged with a violation of subdivision (d)(1). This section does not prohibit a law enforcement officer from seeking a search warrant or court order for one (1) or more breath tests or blood tests, or both types of tests.
(2)
The determination as to whether a person violated this section shall be made at the same time and by the same court as the one disposing of the offense for which such person was placed under arrest. If the court finds that the person violated this section, the person shall not be considered as having committed a criminal offense; however, the court shall suspend the privilege of such driver for a period of twelve (12) months.
(g)
Any person, who is unconscious at the time of arrest or apprehension or otherwise in a condition rendering such person incapable of refusal, shall be subjected to the test, but the results of the test shall not be used as evidence against such person in any court without the consent of the person so tested.
(h)
It is the duty of the enforcement agency investigating boating accidents in which fatalities or serious injuries occur to obtain blood alcohol content from all operators involved and submit the results of the blood alcohol content to the district attorney general.
(i)
Upon the trial of any person charged with a violation of this section, the results of any test made of the person so charged are admissible in evidence in a criminal proceeding. Failure of an officer to request the administering of a test is likewise admissible in evidence in a criminal proceeding.
(j)
(1)
For the purpose of this section, evidence that there was, at the time alleged, five-hundredths of one percent (0.05%), or less, by weight of alcohol in the blood of the defendant, shall create no presumption.
(2)
Evidence that there was, at the time alleged, alcohol concentration in a person's blood or breath equal to or greater than the amount constituting the offense of driving under the influence of an intoxicant as provided in §
55-10-401(2)
shall constitute a violation of this section.
(k)
The results of any test authorized by subsections (d)-(
l
) shall be reported in writing by the person making such test and such report shall have noted on it the time at which the sample analyzed was obtained from the person. Upon request of the person tested, the results of such test shall be made available to such person.
(l)
(1)
The procurement of a sample of a person's blood for making a test as provided by this subsection (
l
) and subsections (d)-(k), to be considered valid under this subsection (
l
) and subsections (d)-(k), shall be performed by a registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, clinical laboratory technologist, clinical laboratory technician, licensed paramedic or, notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, licensed emergency medical technician approved to establish intravenous catheters, technologist, or certified or nationally registered phlebotomist, or at the direction of a medical examiner or other physician holding an unlimited license to practice medicine in Tennessee under procedures established by the department of health.
(2)
Upon receipt of a specimen forwarded to the director's office for analysis, the director of the Tennessee bureau of investigation shall have it examined for alcohol concentration or for the presence of narcotic or other drugs, if requested by the arresting officer, county medical examiner, or any district attorney general. The chief medical examiner or the medical examiner's duly appointed representative shall execute a certificate that indicates the name of the accused, the date, time and by whom the specimen was received and examined, and a statement of the alcohol concentration or presence of drugs in the specimen.
(3)
When a specimen taken in accordance with this section is forwarded for testing to the office of the director, a report of the results of such test shall be made and filed in the director's office, and a copy mailed to the district attorney general for the district where the case arose.
(4)
The certificate provided for in subdivision (
l
)(2) is, when duly attested by the director or the director's duly appointed representative, admissible in any court, in any criminal proceeding, as evidence of the facts in the certificate stated, and of the results of the test; provided, that the person taking or causing to be taken the specimen and the person performing the test of such specimen shall be available, if subpoenaed as witnesses, upon demand by either party to the cause, or, when unable to appear as witnesses, shall submit a deposition upon demand by either party to the cause.
(5)
The person tested is entitled to have an additional sample of blood or urine procured and the resulting test performed by any medical laboratory of the person's own choosing and at the person's own expense; provided, that the medical laboratory is licensed pursuant to title 68, chapter 29.
(m)
It is unlawful for any person or persons to operate any vessel subject to registration or any commercial vessel as defined in this section on the public waters of the state while such person's privilege to do so is suspended.
(n)
This section does not apply to any vessel that is moored or anchored.
Amended by 2024 Tenn. Acts, ch. 845,s 2, eff. 7/1/2024.
Amended by 2023 Tenn. Acts, ch. 383, s 3, eff. 7/1/2023.
Amended by 2023 Tenn. Acts, ch. 383, s 2, eff. 7/1/2023.
Amended by 2023 Tenn. Acts, ch. 383, s 1, eff. 7/1/2023.
Acts 1989, ch. 92, § 5; 1990, ch. 981, § 1; 1995, ch. 355, §§ 3, 4; T.C.A. § 69-10-217; Acts 2005, ch. 90, §§ 1, 2; 2006, ch. 529, §1; 2007 , ch. 185, § 12.