{"data":{"id":"us-va/va.-code-29.1-738.4","jurisdiction":"us-va","citation":"Va. Code § 29.1-738.4","heading":"Additional penalty for reckless or intoxicated operation of a watercraft or motorboat","body":"In addition to any other penalties authorized by law, upon conviction of any person for violation of any provision of § 29.1-738, the court shall order such person not to operate a watercraft or motorboat which is underway upon the waters of the Commonwealth for a period of twelve months from the date of a first conviction or for a period of three years from the date of a second or subsequent conviction within ten years of a first conviction. The period specified in any such order prohibiting operation of a watercraft or motorboat which is underway imposed pursuant to this section shall run consecutively with any such order imposed for refusal to permit a blood or breath sample to be taken.A first offense of violating this section shall constitute a Class 2 misdemeanor. A second or subsequent offense shall constitute a Class 1 misdemeanor. In addition, the court shall suspend the person's privilege to operate a motorboat 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 order prohibiting operation of a watercraft or motorboat which is underway imposed pursuant to this section may be suspended by the court only as authorized in § 29.1-738.5.1989, c. 726; 1996, cc. 929, 1015.","path":["Title 29.1. Wildlife, Inland Fisheries and Boating","Chapter 7. BOATING LAWS","Article 3. BOATING SAFETY"],"source_url":"https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/29.1-738.4/","current_through":"9/4/2026","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-04T15:15:24Z","sha256":"6424e12587531fdbda4e8ed7974c13d62f6107f899e59373db33de3aba1d71cc","source_id":"us-va","stale":true,"prev":"us-va/va.-code-29.1-738.3","next":"us-va/va.-code-29.1-738.5"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}