Peak boating season in Georgia runs from Memorial Day to Labor Day, and this year the Georgia Department of Natural Resources has partnered with TEAM Georgia, an organization devoted to sober driving initiatives, to encourage boating safety on the waterways this summer.
The State of Georgia has established a variety of regulations for its boaters in The Handbook of Georgia Boating Laws and Responsibilities, but raising awareness specifically about three key guidelines has become a goal of the DNR this season.
Boating Safety Rules
Life Jackets
In Georgia, boaters are required to have a wearable lifejacket of appropriate size for every person on a watercraft at any given time.
Crafts Off The Water At Dark
Boats without approved lighting systems and jet skis must cease operation at dusk.
Choose a Designated Skipper
It is not illegal for a person operating a boat to drink, but the boating blood alcohol limit in Georgia is .10 or lower. Boat driver’s exceeding this limit may be charged with boating under the influence.
These rules are just a starting point. More information about boating safety guidelines is available online at the Georgia DNR website, which features several videos that provide good lessons on boater safety.
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