New Boater Education Law Going Into Effect Soon

What do you know about life jacket safety, the 100-foot law, minimum age limits for boat operators, or boating under the influence?

These are just a few examples of things you should know before operating a vessel on public waters, according to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Law Enforcement Division.

How important is boater education? So important that beginning July 1, completion of a boater education course will become mandatory for anyone born on or after January 1, 1998, according to DNR Law Enforcement officer Craig Fulghum.

“If you fall into that criteria, this law applies to you and you will have to have a license to operate a boat in Georgia,” he said.

The course taken, however, must be approved by the Department of Natural Resources.

There are some exemptions to the new law however. Anyone born before 1998 is exempt from taking the course, as well as anyone already licensed by the Coast Guard as a master of a vessel, someone operating on a private pond or lake, or a non-resident who has proof that they have completed an approved boater education course from another state.

There are three ways to take a boater education course, by classroom, online or a home study program.

For information on the mandatory boater education requirement, including a new video, visit www.gadnrle.org.