GEORGIA DNR OFFERS TIPS FOR SAFE BOATING THIS WEEKEND

With the 4th of July falling on a Thursday this year, many Georgians are taking Friday off as well to enjoy an extra long holiday weekend and many of those are looking forward to being on the water.

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division reminds all boat and watercraft operators that state law requires all boats and personal watercraft to contain enough lifejackets for each passenger, and children under 13 are required to wear a lifejacket at all times when they are riding on a boat.

Additionally, all personal watercraft operators and passengers are required to wear a lifejacket at all times.

If you are short on life jackets, there is a life jacket lending station at the Tugaloo Mega Ramp at Tugaloo State Park in Lavonia as well as at some parks and campgrounds on the lake.

During the July 4th weekend, Department of Natural Resources Game Wardens will be conducting random safety checks and boat inspections, according to DNR Game Warden Noah Osborne.

And they will also be looking for impaired boaters this weekend.

As you may or may not know, the Georgia/South Carolina state line runs down the center of Lake Hartwell.

That means there will be DNR law enforcement officers patrolling the lake from two states this weekend.

Georgia DNR Game Warden Brennan Pierce says the Georgia and South Carolina BUI laws are basically the same – if you’re caught drinking and boating, you will go to jail.

Georgia law prohibits anyone from operating a motor vehicle, boat, or personal watercraft with a Blood-Alcohol Concentration (BAC) level of .08 or higher.

Pierce also recommends that, just as you have a designated driver when drinking on land, you have a “designated skipper” if you plan to have alcohol on your boat.

Other concerns for boaters this weekend include remembering simple things like making sure you have enough fuel and your boat is in good nick so you don’t find yourself dead in the water in the middle of the lake.

DNR Game Warden Phillip Nelson said it is good to have a “float plan.”

Georgia Department of Natural Resources Game Wardens have already investigated more than 22 drownings statewide in 2024.