2006 New York Code - Operation Of A Vessel While Under The Influence Of Alcohol Or Drugs.



 
    § 49-a. Operation  of a vessel while under the influence of alcohol or
  drugs. 1. Definitions. As used  in  this  section,  unless  the  context
  clearly indicates otherwise:
    (a)  The  term  "vessel"  shall  be every description of watercraft or
  other artificial contrivance propelled in whole or in part by mechanical
  power and, which is used  or  capable  of  being  used  as  a  means  of
  transportation  over  water,  and which is underway and not at anchor or
  made fast to the shore or ground. The  term  "vessel"  shall  include  a
  "public vessel" as defined herein unless otherwise specified.
    (b) The term "public vessel" shall mean and include every vessel which
  is  propelled  in  whole  or  in part by mechanical power and is used or
  operated for commercial purposes on the navigable waters of  the  state;
  that is either carrying passengers, carrying freight, towing, or for any
  other  use,  for  which  a  compensation is received, either directly or
  where provided as an accommodation, advantage, facility or privilege  at
  any place of public accommodation, resort or amusement.
    (c)  The  term  "waters  of  the  state" means all of the waterways or
  bodies of water located within New York state or that part of  any  body
  of  water  which  is adjacent to New York state over which the state has
  territorial jurisdiction, on which a vessel or public vessel may be used
  or operated, including Nassau and Suffolk counties.
    2. Offenses: criminal penalties. (a) No person shall operate a  vessel
  upon the waters of the state while his ability to operate such vessel is
  impaired  by the consumption of alcohol. A violation of this subdivision
  shall be an offense and shall be punishable by a fine of not  less  than
  two  hundred fifty dollars nor more than three hundred fifty dollars, or
  by imprisonment in a penitentiary or  county  jail  for  not  more  than
  fifteen  days,  or  by  both  such  fine  and imprisonment. A person who
  operates a vessel in violation of this subdivision after being convicted
  of a violation of any subdivision of this section within  the  preceding
  five  years  shall  be  punished by a fine of not less than five hundred
  dollars nor more than fifteen hundred dollars, or by imprisonment of not
  more than thirty days in a penitentiary or county jail or by  both  such
  fine and imprisonment.
    (b)  No  such person shall operate a vessel other than a public vessel
  while he has .08 of one per centum or more by weight of alcohol  in  his
  blood, breath, urine, or saliva, as determined by the chemical test made
  pursuant to the provisions of subdivision seven of this section.
    (c)  No  such person shall operate a public vessel while he has .04 of
  one per centum or more by weight of alcohol in his blood, breath, urine,
  or saliva, as determined by the  chemical  test  made  pursuant  to  the
  provisions of subdivision seven of this section.
    (d)  No  person  shall  operate a vessel while he is in an intoxicated
  condition.
    (e) No person shall operate a vessel while his ability to operate such
  vessel is impaired by the use of  a  drug  as  defined  by  section  one
  hundred fourteen-a of the vehicle and traffic law.
    (f)  A violation of paragraph (b), (c), (d) or (e) of this subdivision
  shall be a misdemeanor and shall be  punishable  by  imprisonment  in  a
  penitentiary  or county jail for not more than ninety days, or by a fine
  of not less than three hundred fifty dollars nor more than five  hundred
  dollars,  or by both such fine and imprisonment. A person who operates a
  vessel  in  violation  of  paragraph  (b),  (c),  (d)  or  (e)  of  this
  subdivision after having been convicted of a violation of paragraph (b),
  (c),  (d) or (e) of this subdivision, or of operating a vessel or public
  vessel while intoxicated or while under the influence of  drugs,  within
  the  preceding  ten years, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be
  punished by imprisonment for not more than one year, or by a fine of not
  less than five hundred nor more than fifteen hundred dollars, or by both
  such fine and imprisonment. A person who operates a vessel in  violation
  of  paragraph (b), (c), (d) or (e) of this subdivision after having been
  twice convicted of a violation of any of such paragraph (b), (c), (d) or
  (e)  of this subdivision or of operating a vessel or public vessel while
  intoxicated or under the influence of drugs, within  the  preceding  ten
  years,  shall  be  guilty of a class E felony and shall be punished by a
  fine of not less than five hundred dollars nor more than  five  thousand
  dollars  or by a period of imprisonment as provided in the penal law, or
  by both such fine and imprisonment.
    3. Privilege to operate a vessel; suspensions.  (a)  The  court  shall
  suspend  a  person's  privilege  to  operate  a vessel and may suspend a
  vessel registration for:
    (1) a period of six  months  where  an  operator  is  convicted  of  a
  violation of paragraph (a) of subdivision two of this section;
    (2)  a  period  of  twelve  months where an operator is convicted of a
  violation of paragraph (b), (c), (d) or (e) of subdivision two  of  this
  section;
    (3)  a  period  of twenty-four months where a person is convicted of a
  violation of paragraph (b), (c), (d) or (e) of subdivision two  of  this
  section  after  having  been  convicted of a violation of paragraph (b),
  (c), (d) or (e) of subdivision two of this section  or  of  operating  a
  vessel  or  public  vessel  while  intoxicated or under the influence of
  drugs within the preceding ten years.
    (b) The court shall report each conviction recorded pursuant  to  this
  section  to  the  commissioner of motor vehicles and the commissioner of
  parks, recreation and historic preservation on  forms  provided  by  the
  department  of  motor vehicles. Such reports shall include the length of
  any suspension imposed on the privilege to  operate  a  vessel  and  any
  suspension  imposed  against  a  vessel  registration. The department of
  motor  vehicles  shall  maintain  a  record  of  all   convictions   and
  suspensions in order to effectuate the provisions of this section.
    4.  (a)  Operation  of  vessel  while  operating  privileges have been
  suspended. No person shall operate a vessel upon the waters of the state
  while operating privileges have been suspended pursuant to this  section
  or  section  forty-nine-b of this article. A violation of the provisions
  of this paragraph shall be a violation and shall be punishable by a fine
  of not less than three hundred fifty dollars nor more than seven hundred
  fifty dollars or by imprisonment for a period of not  more  than  ninety
  days, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
    (b) A person who is in violation of the provisions of paragraph (a) of
  this  subdivision,  and in addition is in violation of the provisions of
  any paragraph of subdivision two of this section arising out of the same
  incident, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine  of  not
  less than five hundred dollars nor more than five thousand dollars or by
  a  period  of  imprisonment for a period of not more than one year or by
  both such fine and imprisonment.
    5. Sentencing limitations. Notwithstanding any provision of the  penal
  law,  no  judge  or  magistrate shall impose a sentence of unconditional
  discharge for  a  violation  of  paragraph  (b),  (c),  (d)  or  (e)  of
  subdivision two of this section nor shall he or she impose a sentence of
  conditional  discharge  unless such conditional discharge is accompanied
  by a sentence of a fine as provided in this section.
    6. Arrest and testing. (a) Notwithstanding the provisions  of  section
  140.10  of  the  criminal procedure law, a police officer may, without a
  warrant, arrest a person, in case of a violation  of  any  paragraph  of
  subdivision  two  of  this section, if such violation is coupled with an
  accident or collision in which such person is involved,  which  in  fact
  had been committed, though not in the police officer's presence, when he
  has reasonable cause to believe that the violation was committed by such
  person.  For  the purposes of this subdivision police officer shall also
  include  a  peace  officer  authorized  to enforce this chapter when the
  alleged violation constitutes a crime.
    (b) Breath test for operators of  vessel.  Every  person  operating  a
  vessel on the waters of the state which has been involved in an accident
  or  which  is  operated  in  violation  of any of the provisions of this
  section which regulate the manner in which a vessel is  to  be  properly
  operated  while  underway  shall,  at  the  request of a police officer,
  submit to a breath test to be administered by  the  police  officer.  If
  such  test indicates that such operator has consumed alcohol, the police
  officer may request such operator to submit to a chemical  test  in  the
  manner  set forth in subdivision seven of this section. For the purposes
  of this section, a vessel is being "operated" only when such  vessel  is
  underway and is being propelled in whole or in part by mechanical power.
    7.  Chemical tests. (a) Any person who operates a vessel on the waters
  of the state shall be requested to consent to a chemical test of one  or
  more  of  the following: breath, blood, urine, or saliva for the purpose
  of determining the alcoholic or drug content of his blood, provided that
  such test is administered at the direction  of  a  police  officer:  (1)
  having reasonable cause to believe such person to have been operating in
  violation  of this subdivision or paragraph (a), (b), (c), (d) or (e) of
  subdivision two of this section and within two hours after  such  person
  has  been  placed  under arrest for any such violation or (2) within two
  hours after a breath test as provided in paragraph  (b)  of  subdivision
  six  of  this  section  indicates that alcohol has been consumed by such
  person and in accordance with the rules and regulations  established  by
  the police force of which the officer is a member.
    (b)  If  such person having been placed under arrest or after a breath
  test indicates the presence of alcohol in the person's system and having
  thereafter been requested to submit to such  chemical  test  and  having
  been  informed  that the person's privilege to operate a vessel shall be
  immediately suspended for refusal to submit to such chemical test or any
  portion thereof, whether or not the person is found guilty of the charge
  for which such person is arrested, refuses to submit  to  such  chemical
  test  or  any  portion  thereof,  unless  a court order has been granted
  pursuant to subdivision eight of this section, the  test  shall  not  be
  given  and a written report of such refusal shall be immediately made by
  the police officer before whom such refusal was made. Such report may be
  verified by having the report sworn to, or by affixing to such report  a
  form notice that false statements made therein are punishable as a class
  A  misdemeanor pursuant to section 210.45 of the penal law and such form
  notice together with the subscription of the deponent shall constitute a
  verification of the report. The report of the police officer  shall  set
  forth  reasonable  grounds  to believe such arrested person to have been
  operating a vessel in violation of any paragraph of subdivision  two  of
  this  section,  that  said person had refused to submit to such chemical
  test, and that  no  chemical  test  was  administered  pursuant  to  the
  requirements  of  subdivision eight of this section. The report shall be
  presented to the court upon the arraignment of the arrested person.  The
  privilege  to  operate  a  vessel  shall, upon the basis of such written
  report, be temporarily suspended by the court without notice pending the
  determination of a hearing as provided herein.  Copies  of  such  report
  must  be  transmitted  by  the  court  to  the  commissioner  of  parks,
  recreation and historic  preservation  and  the  commissioner  of  motor
  vehicles and such transmittal may not be waived even with the consent of
  all  the  parties.  Such  report shall be forwarded to each commissioner
  within forty-eight hours of such arraignment. The  court  shall  provide
  such  person with a hearing date schedule, a waiver form, and such other
  information as may be required by the commissioner of motor vehicles. If
  a  hearing,  as  provided  for  in paragraph (c) of this subdivision, is
  waived  by  such  person,  the  commissioner  of  motor  vehicles  shall
  immediately suspend the privilege to operate a vessel, as of the date of
  receipt  of  such  waiver in accordance with the provisions of paragraph
  (d) of this subdivision.
    (c) Any person whose privilege to operate a vessel has been  suspended
  pursuant  to  paragraph (b) of this subdivision is entitled to a hearing
  in  accordance  with  a  hearing  schedule  to  be  promulgated  by  the
  commissioner  of  motor vehicles. If the department fails to provide for
  such hearing fifteen days after the  date  of  the  arraignment  of  the
  arrested  person, the privilege to operate a vessel of such person shall
  be reinstated pending a hearing pursuant to this  section.  The  hearing
  shall  be  limited  to  the following issues: (1) did the police officer
  have reasonable cause to believe that such person had been  operating  a
  vessel in violation of any paragraph of subdivision two of this section;
  (2)  did the police officer make a lawful arrest of such person; (3) was
  such person given sufficient warning, in clear or unequivocal  language,
  prior  to such refusal that such refusal to submit to such chemical test
  or any portion thereof, would result in the immediate suspension of such
  person's privilege to operate a vessel whether or  not  such  person  is
  found  guilty  of  the charge for which the arrest was made; and (4) did
  such person refuse to submit  to  such  chemical  test  or  any  portion
  thereof.  If,  after such hearing, the hearing officer, acting on behalf
  of the commissioner of motor vehicles, finds on any one of  said  issues
  in  the  negative,  the  hearing officer shall immediately terminate any
  suspension arising from  such  refusal.  If,  after  such  hearing,  the
  hearing  officer, acting on behalf of the commissioner of motor vehicles
  finds  all  of  the  issues  in  the  affirmative,  such  officer  shall
  immediately suspend the privilege to operate a vessel in accordance with
  the  provisions  of  paragraph (d) of this subdivision. A person who has
  had the privilege  to  operate  a  vessel  suspended  pursuant  to  this
  subdivision may appeal the findings of the hearing officer in accordance
  with  the  provisions of article three-A of the vehicle and traffic law.
  Any person may waive the right to a hearing under this section.  Failure
  by  such  person  to appear for the scheduled hearing shall constitute a
  waiver of such hearing, provided, however, that such person may petition
  the commissioner of motor vehicles for a new hearing which shall be held
  as soon as practicable.
    (d) (1) Any privilege to operate a vessel  which  has  been  suspended
  pursuant  to paragraph (c) of this subdivision shall not be restored for
  six months after such suspension. However, no such  privilege  shall  be
  restored  for  at least one year after such suspension in any case where
  the person was under the age of twenty-one at the time of  the  offense,
  has  had  a  prior  suspension  resulting  from  refusal  to submit to a
  chemical test pursuant to this subdivision or subdivision six of section
  forty-nine-b of this article, or has been convicted of  a  violation  of
  any  paragraph of subdivision two of this section not arising out of the
  same incident, within the five years immediately preceding the  date  of
  such  suspension; provided, however, a prior finding that a person under
  the age of twenty-one has refused to submit to a chemical test  pursuant
  to  such  subdivision  six of section forty-nine-b of this article shall
  have the same effect as a prior finding of a refusal  pursuant  to  this
  subdivision  solely  for  the  purpose  of determining the length of any
  suspension required to be imposed under any provision of  this  article,
  provided that the subsequent offense or refusal is committed or occurred
  prior  to  the expiration of the retention period for such prior refusal
  as set forth in paragraph (k) of subdivision one of section two  hundred
  one  of  the  vehicle  and traffic law. Notwithstanding any provision of
  this  paragraph to the contrary, any privilege to operate a vessel which
  has been suspended pursuant to paragraph (c) of this subdivision,  where
  the  person  was under the age of twenty-one at the time of the refusal,
  and such person under  the  age  of  twenty-one  has  a  prior  finding,
  conviction  or youthful offender adjudication resulting from a violation
  of this section or section forty-nine-b of  this  article,  not  arising
  from  the  same incident, shall not be restored for at least one year or
  until such person reaches the age of twenty-one years, whichever is  the
  greater period of time.
    (2)  Any  person  whose  privilege  to  operate  a vessel is suspended
  pursuant to the provisions of this subdivision shall also be liable  for
  a civil penalty in the amount of two hundred dollars except that if such
  suspension  is  a  second  or  subsequent  suspension  pursuant  to this
  subdivision issued within a five year period, or such  person  has  been
  convicted  of  a  violation  of any paragraph of subdivision two of this
  section within the past five years not arising out of the same incident,
  the civil penalty shall be in the amount of five  hundred  dollars.  The
  privilege  to  operate  a  vessel  shall  not be restored to such person
  unless such penalty has been paid. The first one hundred dollars of each
  penalty collected by the department of motor vehicles  pursuant  to  the
  provisions  of  this  subdivision  shall  be paid to the commissioner of
  motor vehicles for deposit to the general fund and the remainder of  all
  such  penalties  shall  be paid to the commissioner of parks, recreation
  and historic preservation for deposit  in  the  "I  Love  NY  Waterways"
  boating  safety  fund established pursuant to section ninety-seven-nn of
  the state finance law.
    (e) The commissioner  of  motor  vehicles  in  consultation  with  the
  commissioner  of  parks,  recreation  and  historic  preservation  shall
  promulgate such rules and regulations as may be necessary to  effectuate
  the provisions of this subdivision.
    (f)  Evidence  of  a  refusal to submit to such chemical test shall be
  admissible in any trial, proceeding or hearing based upon a violation of
  the provisions of this section, but only upon a showing that the  person
  was  given sufficient warning, in clear and unequivocal language, of the
  effect of such refusal and that the  person  persisted  in  his  or  her
  refusal.
    (g)  Upon  the  request of the person tested, the results of such test
  shall be made available to him or her.
    8. Compulsory chemical tests. (a) Notwithstanding  the  provisions  of
  subdivision  seven  of  this section, no person who operates a vessel in
  the waters of this state may refuse to submit to a chemical test of  one
  or  more  of  the  following:  breath,  blood,  urine or saliva, for the
  purpose of determining the alcoholic and/or drug content  of  the  blood
  when  a court order for such chemical test has been issued in accordance
  with the provisions of this subdivision.
    (b) Upon refusal by any person to submit to a  chemical  test  or  any
  portion  thereof  as described in paragraph (a) of this subdivision, the
  test shall not be given unless a police officer or a district  attorney,
  as  defined  in  subdivision  thirty-two of section 1.20 of the criminal
  procedure law, requests and obtains a court order to compel a person  to
  submit  to a chemical test to determine the alcoholic or drug content of
  the person's blood upon a finding of reasonable cause to believe that:
    (1) such person was the operator of a vessel and in the course of such
  operation a person other  than  the  operator  was  killed  or  suffered
  serious  physical  injury  as defined in section 10.00 of the penal law;
  and
    (2)  (i)  either  such  person operated the vessel in violation of any
  paragraph of subdivision two of this section, or
    (ii) a breath test administered by a police officer in accordance with
  subdivision six of this section indicates that alcohol has been consumed
  by such person; and
    (3) such person has been placed under lawful arrest; and
    (4) such person has refused to  submit  to  a  chemical  test  or  any
  portion   thereof,  requested  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of
  subdivision seven of this section or is unable to give consent to such a
  test.
    (c) For the purpose of this subdivision "reasonable  cause"  shall  be
  determined  by  viewing  the  totality  of circumstances surrounding the
  incident which, when taken together,  indicate  that  the  operator  was
  operating  a  vessel in violation of any paragraph of subdivision two of
  this section. Such circumstances may include, but are  not  limited  to:
  evidence  that  the  operator was operating a vessel in violation of any
  provision of this chapter which regulates the manner in which  a  vessel
  is  to  be properly operated while underway at the time of the incident;
  any visible indication of alcohol or drug consumption or  impairment  by
  the  operator;  any  other evidence surrounding the circumstances of the
  incident which indicates that the operator has been operating  a  vessel
  while impaired by the consumption of alcohol or drugs or was intoxicated
  at the time of the incident.
    (d)  (1)  An  application  for a court order to compel submission to a
  chemical test or any portion thereof, may be made to any  supreme  court
  justice,  county  court  judge  or  district court judge in the judicial
  district in which the incident occurred, or if the incident occurred  in
  the  city  of  New York before any supreme court justice or judge of the
  criminal court of  the  city  of  New  York.  Such  application  may  be
  communicated   by   telephone,   radio  or  other  means  of  electronic
  communication, or in person.
    (2) The applicant must provide identification by name  and  title  and
  must  state the purpose of the communication. Upon being advised that an
  application for a court order to compel submission to a chemical test is
  being made, the court shall place under oath the applicant and any other
  person providing information in support of the application  as  provided
  in subparagraph three of this paragraph. After being sworn the applicant
  must state that the person from whom the chemical test was requested was
  the  operator  of a vessel and in the course of such operation a person,
  other than the operator, has been killed or seriously injured and, based
  upon the totality of circumstances, there is reasonable cause to believe
  that such person was operating a vessel in violation of any paragraph of
  subdivision two of this section and, after  being  placed  under  lawful
  arrest  such  person refused to submit to a chemical test or any portion
  thereof, in accordance with the provisions of this section or is  unable
  to  give  consent  to  such a test or any portion thereof. The applicant
  must make specific allegations of fact to support  such  statement.  Any
  other  person properly identified, may present sworn allegations of fact
  in support of the applicant's statement.
    (3) Upon being advised that an oral application for a court  order  to
  compel  a  person to submit to a chemical test is being made, a judge or
  justice shall place under  oath  the  applicant  and  any  other  person
  providing  information in support of the application. Such oath or oaths
  and all of the remaining communication must be recorded, either by means
  of a  voice  recording  device  or  verbatim  stenographic  or  verbatim
  longhand  notes.  If  a voice recording device is used or a stenographic
  record made, the judge must have the record transcribed, certify to  the
  accuracy   of  the  transcription  and  file  the  original  record  and
  transcription with the court within seventy-two hours of the issuance of
  the  court  order.  If  the  longhand  notes  are taken, the judge shall
  subscribe a copy and file it with the court within twenty-four hours  of
  the issuance of the order.
    (4)  If  the court is satisfied that the requirements for the issuance
  of a court order pursuant to the provisions of  paragraph  (b)  of  this
  subdivision  have  been  met,  it may grant the application and issue an
  order requiring the accused to submit to a chemical  test  to  determine
  the  alcoholic  and/or  drug  content  of  his  blood  and  ordering the
  withdrawal of a blood  sample  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of
  subdivision  nine of this section. When a judge or justice determines to
  issue an order to compel submission to a chemical test based on an  oral
  application,   the   applicant  therefor  shall  prepare  the  order  in
  accordance with the instructions of the judge or justice. In  all  cases
  the  order  shall  include the name of the issuing judge or justice, the
  name of the applicant, and the date and time it was issued. It  must  be
  signed  by the judge or justice if issued in person, or by the applicant
  if issued orally.
    (5) Any false statement by an applicant or any other person in support
  of an application for a court order shall subject  such  person  to  the
  offenses  for  perjury set forth in article two hundred ten of the penal
  law.
    (e) An order issued pursuant to the  provisions  of  this  subdivision
  shall  require  that  a  chemical test to determine the alcoholic and/or
  drug  content  of  the  operator's  blood  must  be  administered.   The
  provisions  of  paragraphs  (a), (b) and (c) of subdivision nine of this
  section shall be applicable to any chemical test  administered  pursuant
  to this section.
    (f)  A  defendant  who has been compelled to submit to a chemical test
  pursuant to  the  provisions  of  this  subdivision  may  move  for  the
  suppression  of  such  evidence in accordance with article seven hundred
  ten of the criminal procedure law on the  grounds  that  the  order  was
  obtained  and  the  test  administered in violation of the provisions of
  this subdivision or any other applicable law.
    9. Testing procedures. (a) At the request of  a  police  officer,  the
  following  persons may withdraw blood for the purpose of determining the
  alcohol  or  drug  content  therein:  (1)  a  physician,  a   registered
  professional  nurse  or a registered physician's assistant; or (2) under
  the  supervision  and  at  the  direction  of  a  physician:  a  medical
  laboratory  technician  or  medical  technologist as classified by civil
  service; a phlebotomist; an advanced  emergency  medical  technician  as
  certified   by  the  department  of  health,  or  a  medical  laboratory
  technician or medical technologist employed  by  a  clinical  laboratory
  approved under title five of article five of the public health law. This
  limitation  shall  not  apply to the taking of a urine, saliva or breath
  specimen.
    (b) No person entitled to withdraw blood pursuant to paragraph (a)  of
  this subdivision or hospital employing such person and no other employer
  of  such person shall be sued or held liable for any act done or omitted
  in the course of withdrawing blood at the request of a police officer or
  peace officer acting pursuant to his special  duties  pursuant  to  this
  subdivision.
    (c)  Any  person  who  may  have  a  cause  of action arising from the
  withdrawal of blood as aforesaid, for which no personal liability exists
  under paragraph (b)  of  this  subdivision,  may  maintain  such  action
  against  the  state if the person entitled to withdraw blood pursuant to
  paragraph (a) of this subdivision acted  at  the  request  of  a  police
  officer or peace officer acting pursuant to his special duties, employed
  by  the  state,  or against the appropriate political subdivision of the
  state  if  the  person acted at the request of a police officer or peace
  officer acting pursuant to his special duties, employed by  a  political
  subdivision of the state. No action shall be maintained pursuant to this
  paragraph  unless  notice of claim is duly filed or served in compliance
  with law.
    (d) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this  subdivision,  an
  action may be maintained by the state or a political subdivision thereof
  against a person entitled to withdraw blood pursuant to paragraph (a) of
  this  subdivision  or  hospital  employing  such person for whose act or
  omission the state or the political subdivision  has  been  held  liable
  under  this  subdivision  to  recover  damages, not exceeding the amount
  awarded to the claimant, that may have been sustained by  the  state  or
  the  political  subdivision by reason of gross negligence on the part of
  such person entitled to withdraw blood.
    (e) The testimony of any person, other than a physician,  entitled  to
  draw  blood  pursuant to paragraph (a) of this subdivision in respect to
  any such withdrawal of blood made by him may  be  received  in  evidence
  with  the  same  weight, force and effect as if such withdrawal of blood
  were made by a physician.
    (f) The provisions of paragraphs (b), (c) and (d) of this  subdivision
  shall  also  apply  with  regard to any person employed by a hospital as
  security personnel for  any  act  done  or  omitted  in  the  course  of
  withdrawing blood at the request of a police officer pursuant to a court
  order in accordance with this subdivision.
    (g)  The  person  tested  shall  be permitted to choose a physician to
  administer a chemical test in addition to the one  administered  at  the
  direction of the police officer.
    10.  Chemical  test evidence. (a) Upon the trial of any such action or
  proceeding arising out of actions alleged to have been committed by  any
  person  arrested  for a violation of any paragraph of subdivision two of
  this section, the court shall admit evidence of the amount of alcohol or
  drugs in the defendant's blood as shown by a test administered  pursuant
  to the provisions of subdivision seven or eight of this section.
    (b)  The  following effect shall be given to evidence of blood alcohol
  content, as determined by  such  tests,  of  a  person  arrested  for  a
  violation  of  any  paragraph of subdivision two of this section and who
  was operating a vessel other than a public vessel:
    (1) evidence that there was .05 of one per centum or less by weight of
  alcohol in such person's blood shall be prima facie  evidence  that  the
  ability  of  such  person  to  operate  a vessel was not impaired by the
  consumption of alcohol, and that such person was not in  an  intoxicated
  condition.
    (2)  evidence  that there was more than .05 of one per centum but less
  than .07 of one per centum of weight in such  person's  blood  shall  be
  prima  facie  evidence  that  such  person  was  not  in  an intoxicated
  condition, but such evidence shall be relevant evidence but not be given
  prima facie effect, in determining whether the ability of such person to
  operate a vessel was impaired by the consumption of alcohol.
    (3) evidence that there was .07 of one per centum  or  more  but  less
  than  .08  of  one per centum by weight of alcohol in his blood shall be
  prima facie  evidence  that  such  person  was  not  in  an  intoxicated
  condition,  but  such  evidence  shall  be  given  prima facie effect in
  determining whether the ability of such person to operate a  vessel  was
  impaired by the consumption of alcohol.
    (c)  Evidence of a refusal to submit to a chemical test or any portion
  thereof shall be admissible in any trial or hearing provided the request
  to submit to such a test was made in accordance with the  provisions  of
  subdivision seven of this section.
    11. Limitations. (a) A vessel operator may be convicted of a violation
  of  paragraphs (a), (b), (d) and (e) of subdivision two of this section,
  notwithstanding  that  the  charge  laid  before  the  court  alleged  a
  violation  of  paragraph  (b),  (d)  or  (e)  of subdivision two of this
  section, and regardless of whether or not such condition is based  on  a
  plea of guilty.
    (b)  In  any  case  wherein the charge laid before the court alleges a
  violation of paragraph (b), (c), (d) or (e) of subdivision two  of  this
  section,  any  plea of guilty thereafter entered in satisfaction of such
  charge must include at least a plea of guilty to the  violation  of  the
  provisions of one of the paragraphs of such subdivision two and no other
  disposition  by  plea  of  guilty to any other charge in satisfaction of
  such charge shall be authorized;  provided,  however,  if  the  district
  attorney  upon  reviewing  the  available  evidence  determines that the
  charge of a  violation  of  subdivision  two  of  this  section  is  not
  warranted, he may consent, and the court may allow a disposition by plea
  of guilty to another charge in satisfaction of such charge.
    12.  Suspension  pending  prosecution. (a) Without notice, pending any
  prosecution, the court may suspend the right to operate a  vessel  where
  the  vessel  operator  has  been  charged  with vehicular assault in the
  second degree or vehicular manslaughter in the second degree as defined,
  respectively, in sections 120.03 and 125.12 of the penal law.
    (b) A suspension under this subdivision  shall  occur  no  later  than
  twenty  days  after  the  vessel  operator's first appearance before the
  court on the charges or at the conclusion of  all  proceedings  required
  for  the  arraignment,  whichever comes first. In order for the court to
  impose such suspension it  must  find  that  the  accusatory  instrument
  conforms to the requirements of section 100.40 of the criminal procedure
  law  and  there  exists  reasonable  cause  to  believe that the accused
  operated a vessel in violation of section 120.03 or 125.12 of the  penal
  law.  At  such  time the operator shall be entitled to an opportunity to
  make a statement regarding the enumerated issues and to present evidence
  tending to rebut the court's findings. Where such suspension is  imposed
  upon  such  pending  charge  and  the  operator  has requested a hearing
  pursuant to article one hundred eighty of the  criminal  procedure  law,
  the court shall conduct such hearing. If upon completion of the hearing,
  the  court  fails to find that there is reasonable cause to believe that
  the operator committed a felony under section 120.03 or  125.12  of  the
  penal  law the court shall promptly direct restoration of such operating
  privileges  to  the  operator  unless  such  operating  privileges   are
  suspended or revoked pursuant to any other provision of this chapter.
    13.  Boating  safety course. Upon the conviction of any subdivision of
  this section, the court  shall,  in  addition  to  any  other  penalties
  invoked under this section, require the convicted person, as a condition
  of  the sentence, to complete a boating safety course of the state, U.S.
  Power Squadrons  or  U.S.  Coast  Guard  Auxiliary  and  show  proof  of
  successful completion of such course to the court or its designee.

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