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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>87092</law_id><section_number>29.1-738.4</section_number><catch_line>Additional penalty for reckless or intoxicated operation of a watercraft or motorboat</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>19.2-81</reference><reference>29.1-738.5</reference><reference>46.2-382</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="29.1">Wildlife, Inland Fisheries and Boating</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="7">Boating Laws</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="3">Boating Safety</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>In addition to any other penalties authorized by <span class="dictionary">law</span>, upon <span class="dictionary">conviction</span> of any person for violation of any provision of &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Operating boat or manipulating water skis, etc., in reckless manner or while intoxicated, etc" href="/29.1-738/">29.1-738</a>, the <span class="dictionary">court</span> shall <span class="dictionary">order</span> such person not to <span class="dictionary">operate</span> a watercraft or <span class="dictionary">motorboat</span> which is underway upon the <span class="dictionary">waters of the Commonwealth</span> for a period of twelve months from the date of a first <span class="dictionary">conviction</span> or for a period of three years from the date of a second or subsequent <span class="dictionary">conviction</span> within ten years of a first <span class="dictionary">conviction</span>. The period specified in any such <span class="dictionary">order</span> prohibiting operation of a watercraft or <span class="dictionary">motorboat</span> which is underway imposed pursuant to this section shall run consecutively with any such <span class="dictionary">order</span> imposed for refusal to permit a blood or breath sample to be taken.
		A first <span class="dictionary">offense</span> of violating this section shall constitute a Class 2 <span class="dictionary">misdemeanor</span>. A second or subsequent <span class="dictionary">offense</span> shall constitute a Class 1 <span class="dictionary">misdemeanor</span>. In addition, the <span class="dictionary">court</span> shall suspend the person&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">privilege</span> to <span class="dictionary">operate</span> a <span class="dictionary">motorboat</span> or watercraft for the same period for which it had been suspended or revoked when such person violated this section.
		The period specified in any such <span class="dictionary">order</span> prohibiting operation of a watercraft or <span class="dictionary">motorboat</span> which is underway imposed pursuant to this section may be suspended by the <span class="dictionary">court</span> only as authorized in &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Participation in rehabilitation program" href="/29.1-738.5/">29.1-738.5</a>.</p></section></text><history>1989, c. 726; 1996, cc. 929, 1015.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
