CITRUS COUNTY - On Aug. 29, 2025, a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) officer responded to a witness complaint in Citrus County regarding an intoxicated boater operating a vessel without navigational lighting on Kings Bay. The complaint was reported as the vessel operator was preparing to leave the boat ramp.
While en route, the officer observed a vehicle towing a vessel matching the description accelerating across four lanes of traffic on U.S. Highway 19. The officer contacted the Florida Highway Patrol and attempted to stop the vehicle. An FHP trooper was able to intercept and safely stop the erratically driven vehicle.
The FWC officer confirmed the driver, Nicholas Chase Bunts (DOB 05/06/1998) of Dunnellon, was the vessel operator in Kings Bay. Observable evidence indicated Bunts was under the influence of alcohol. He consented to perform Seated Field Sobriety Tasks, which led to his arrest and transport to the Citrus County Jail.
Bunts was issued a DUI citation for a blood alcohol concentration of 0.15 or higher and a Uniform Traffic Citation for failure to maintain a single lane.
# # #
email editor@
alachuatoday.com
Citrus County Boater Arrested for DUI and Traffic Violations
Tools
Typography
- Font Size
- Default
- Reading Mode