“ONLY THREE BEERS” — DRIVER’S CLAIM COLLIDES WITH A 0.16 B*AC TEST AFTER 28-FOOT BOAT CRASH
A 64-year-old boater’s account of a family dinner is drawing attention after his reported alcohol test result came back at 0.16% B*AC, roughly twice the legal limit.
Stephen Schneider reportedly told authorities that he had consumed only three beers over the course of a two-hour dinner with his wife, daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren before getting behind the wheel of his 28-foot boat.
The claim has become a key point of interest because the reported test result appeared significantly higher than the legal threshold.
According to reports, Schneider was operating the boat when it crashed, prompting an investigation into what happened before the incident and whether alcohol played a role.
The case highlights an important issue in boating safety: alcohol can affect judgment, coordination and reaction time, even when someone believes they have consumed a relatively modest amount.
Investigators and prosecutors will ultimately rely on the available evidence — including test results, witness accounts and other records — rather than a person’s estimate of how much they consumed.
For Schneider, the difference between his account and the reported test result could become an important part of the legal proceedings.
The central question now is not simply how many drinks were reportedly consumed during dinner, but what the evidence shows about his condition when he took control of the boat.
Source: WCCO – Stephen Schneider case report
