Civil Guard maritime service officers in Valencia have launched preventive breathalyzer control campaigns in the region. Until now, these tests were only performed after an incident occurred. This year, alongside routine summer tasks like verifying permits and insurance, breathalyzer checks are being added with the aim of preventing nautical accidents.
According to Luis Arrieta, lieutenant of the Civil Guard and head of the Maritime Service of Valencia, the highest sanctions are aimed at professional vessels, which could face fines of up to 900,000 euros. The maximum permitted alcohol level for these vessels is 0.25 milligrams per liter, the same as applied in road checks. In very serious cases, imprisonment may also be imposed in addition to financial penalties.
For recreational boats, the minimum alcohol level is zero. Sanctions, to be determined by the Valencia maritime captaincy, are generally lower. Checks are particularly focused on rental boats that do not require a license, but they also extend to other floating devices such as 'paddle surf' or 'kayaks', which will be subject to breathalyzer tests if they cause an accident.
These preventive checks, already in place in northern Spain, are now being implemented in the Valencian territory to enhance maritime safety.
