4th of July Holiday Weekend will Be Busy on the Water

Thanks to higher water levels and sunny skies, the upcoming Fourth of July holiday weekend is sure to be a busy one on Georgia’s lakes and waterways, according to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division. Conservation Rangers with the Department will do their best to ensure the safety of everyone on the water and boaters are strongly encouraged to use good judgment and exercise caution while on the water.

So far this year in Georgia, there have been 58 boating incidents resulting in 40 injuries and 5 boating incident-related fatalities. Additionally, there have been 21 drownings on public waters. Conservation Rangers have issued 69 boating under the influence (BUI) citations statewide.

“The Division wants boaters to remain alert to their surroundings,” says WRD Lt. Col. Homer Bryson. “A boating incident can happen in a split second, and most could have been avoided by following some simple rules and safety guidelines for operating watercraft.”

DNR offers the following safety rules for boat and PWC operators:

· Designate an operator. Don’t drink and operate a boat. While not illegal to have alcohol on a boat – it is always a wise idea to have a boat operator designated to stay sober. A person age 21 or over with a blood alcohol content of .10 can be charged with Boating Under the Influence.

· Take a boating safety course. To take a boating safety course, visit www.goboatgeorgia.com .

· Wear your life jacket. Recommended for all boaters. Children under 10 years of age are required by law to wear a life jacket while onboard a moving boat.

· Don’t overload your boat with people or equipment. Check on the capacity plate for the maximum weight or the maximum number of people the boat can safely carry.

· Use navigation lights at ALL times when on the water at night. Check lights before it gets dark.

· Watch your distance and speed. The 100-foot law applies to ALL size vessels and prohibits operation at speeds greater than idle speed within 100 feet of any vessel, unless overtaking or meeting another vessel in compliance with the rules of the road.

PWC operators should also be aware of these additional safety rules:

· Do NOT jump the wake of another boat.

· Pay attention to your surroundings and make sure you stay well clear of other vessels.

· Know Georgia’s age requirements for PWC operation.

· Make sure everyone who operates your PWC is aware of boating laws and how to safely operate a PWC. As the owner, you could be held responsible.

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Know Georgia Boating Laws Before Heading Out to Water

GFP Note: Memorial Day Weekend is the official start of the Georgia boating season. Let's all make it a safe one. Know the rules. Follow the rules.

Quick boating safety quiz: Is it okay to jump the wake of another boat when you are less than 100 feet away or to use your personal watercraft to splash someone sitting on a dock?

Contrary to popular activity, it is not okay and both situations are illegal. If you thought otherwise, you should study the boating “rules of the road.”

Last year, there were 156 boating incidents and 18 boating-incident related fatalities, according to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. Incidents can happen quickly and the chance of one occurring greatly increases if boat operators are either unfamiliar with or fail to follow the existing boating laws, or “rules of the road,” that govern lakes and rivers.

“Boat operators do not need a license to operate a boat, and people over the age of 16 are not required by law to take a test to operate a vessel, ” says DNR Lt. Col. Jeff Weaver, assistant chief of Law Enforcement. “Therefore, it is extremely important for boat operators to take responsibility for educating themselves on boating safety and boating laws. Making an effort to learn boating laws can potentially save a life.”

One of the most important “rules of the road” is the ‘100-foot law,’ which includes all boats – not just personal watercrafts (such as Jet Skis or Sea Doos) – and requires boat operators to slow to idle speed when they are within 100 feet of docks, piers, bridges, shorelines or people in the water.

The 100-foot law makes it illegal to jump the wake of another boat within 100 feet and to “buzz” other boats. In addition, it prohibits vessels from operating around or within 100 feet of another vessel faster than idle speed unless it is overtaking or meeting the other vessel in compliance with the rules of the road for boat operation. The law also makes it illegal for boat operators to follow closely behind another vessel, jump the wake of another vessel, or change or reverse their course of direction in order to ride or jump in the wake of another vessel.

“People who operate boats and personal watercraft at dangerously high speeds, and zip into and out of coves and along shorelines where other vessels are anchored or where people are in the water, are not only putting themselves and others at risk for serious accidents, they are also breaking the law,” Weaver explains.

Other “rules of the road” for boat operation include:

- When meeting another vessel, boat operators should pass on the right side (just like in a car) unless the boats are far enough apart that they are not meeting head-on or close to head-on.

- On narrow rivers and streams, stay as far right as possible and be careful when rounding bends and curves and overtaking or passing other boats.

- In a crossing situation, the boat on the right should hold its course and the boat on the left should slow down and cross behind the other boat.

- Powerboats always should yield to sailboats.

For more information on boating safety, visit www.goboatgeorgia.com or call a DNR Law Enforcement office: Northwest Georgia (770) 769-9680; Northeast Georgia (770) 535-5499; Central East Georgia (706) 595-4211; Central West Georgia (478) 751-6415; Southeast Georgia (912) 685-2145; Southwest Georgia (229) 430-4252; Coastal Georgia (912) 264-7237.

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