As more than 20 people looked on, many of them outfitted with life preservers for the occasion, the governor this afternoon endorsed Sen. Mike Padden’s bill to align Washington’s boating law with its motor-vehicle law when it comes to driving under the influence.

“Boating is understandably a highly popular form of recreation in our state; when those in the various boating-related communities were asked, what’s the one thing the Legislature can do this year to increase boating safety, this was the answer,” said Padden, R-Spokane Valley, who saw Senate Bill 5437 sail through the Senate and House of Representatives on its way to the governor’s desk.

Padden said those attending the bill-signing ceremony included recreational boaters, kayakers and representatives from the U.S. Coast Guard, the state Department of Natural Resources and the state parks department, all of whom are stakeholders in the effort to increase boating safety.

By operating a motor vehicle on Washington roads, Padden explained, a driver essentially consents to be tested as to whether he or she is under the influence of alcohol, marijuana or other drugs. However, Washington had no “implied consent” rule for boaters – a gap in the law that is filled by his legislation.

“Hopefully this new law will help lead to a day when alcohol consumption is no longer the leading contributor to boating accidents in Washington,” said Padden, chairman of the Senate Law and Justice Committee.