Bass Season Opens Memorial Day Weekend: BUI Arrests at Belleville Lake, Kent Lake, and Lake St. Clair

Michigan's bass possession season opens on the Saturday before Memorial Day each year (with some exceptions for the St. Clair River system). That makes the holiday weekend a major weekend for boaters on Belleville Lake, Kent Lake, Ford Lake, and Lake St. Clair. With more boats on the water comes more law enforcement — and more BUI arrests.

Boating Under the Influence in Michigan

Under MCL 324.80176, it is illegal to operate a vessel in Michigan with:

• A blood alcohol content of .08 or higher,
• Any amount of a Schedule 1 controlled substance or cocaine in your system, or
• A combination of alcohol and drugs that impairs your ability to operate the boat.

A lesser offense — Operating While Visibly Impaired — applies when impairment is visible, even at a BAC below .08.

Penalties

• First offense: Misdemeanor, up to 93 days in jail (180 days for a High BAC of .17 or above), fines, possible community service, and possible suspension of boating privileges.
• Second offense within 7 years: Misdemeanor with up to one year in jail and increased fines.
• Third offense: Felony, up to five years in prison.
• BUI causing serious injury: Felony.
• BUI causing death: Felony with up to 15 years in prison.

Implied Consent on the Water

Under Michigan's vessel implied consent provisions, operating a vessel constitutes consent to chemical testing for alcohol or drugs upon lawful arrest. Refusal carries administrative consequences for boating privileges.

Where Cases Are Heard

• Belleville Lake: City of Belleville and Van Buren Township — 34th District Court.
• Kent Lake (Kensington Metropark): straddles Oakland and Livingston counties, with Oakland County's 52-1 District Court (Novi) handling the Oakland County side.
• Ford Lake: Ypsilanti Township — 14A District Court (Washtenaw County).
• Lake St. Clair: Macomb County district courts depending on location.

Common BUI Defense Issues

• Whether the officer had reasonable suspicion to stop the vessel.
• Field sobriety tests adapted for the water (which differ from roadside tests).
• Reliability of the PBT and chemical test in boating conditions.
• Identification of the operator on a vessel with multiple people aboard.

Call Boria Law Today

If you were arrested for BUI on a Wayne County lake or anywhere else in Michigan, attorney Aaron J. Boria of Boria Law can help. Boria Law represents boaters charged with operating-while-intoxicated offenses across Southeast Michigan.

Call (734) 453-7806 today for a free consultation.