NASBLA and NDAA Partner to Strengthen BUI Prosecution Training
On July 16, the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA), in collaboration with the National District Attorneys Association (NDAA), hosted a specialized training event at NASBLA headquarters in Lexington, Kentucky. The session, Navigating the Waters of a BUI Prosecution, was also live streamed to a national audience, allowing broader participation from law enforcement officers and prosecutors across the country.
This initiative, produced under a grant from the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund, administered by the U.S. Coast Guard, is part of a strategic effort to expand access to high-quality training on the effective prosecution of Boating Under the Influence (BUI) cases. The training focused on enhancing participants’ understanding of BUI enforcement and prosecution, covering topics such as evidence collection, report writing, courtroom testimony, and collaborative case-building strategies.
The NDAA, the oldest and largest professional organization representing criminal prosecutors in the United States, brought its legal expertise to the training, helping bridge the gap between waterway enforcement and courtroom prosecution. By partnering with NDAA, NASBLA aims to ensure that impaired boating offenses are prosecuted with the same rigor and consistency as driving under the influence (DUI) cases.
This joint effort reflects a growing national commitment to safer waterways and more effective legal responses to impaired boating. The grant funding has enabled NASBLA and NDAA to broaden the reach of this important training, ensuring that more jurisdictions are equipped to handle BUI cases with confidence and competence.