As many boaters get ready to hit the water on Lake Lanier for Memorial Day Weekend, and for the upcoming summer boating season at large, public safety officials held a press conference at Lake Lanier Islands near Buford earlier this week.
The conference was held by the Governor's Office of Highway Safety and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division on Wednesday. It served as a kick-off to their annual "Belts and BJackets" campaign to encourage water and roadway safety ahead of the summer season.
Colonel Mike England with the DNR said 2024 was a deadly year on Georgia waterways.
"Georgia saw 57 drownings and 20 boating fatalities (in 2024,) and already this year, before Memorial Day weekend has even begun, we've experienced 27 drownings and five boating fatalities," England said.
England said most of the fatalities were preventable. He stressed the importance of life jackets, reminding boaters that they are required for children under the age of 13 on any moving vessel, motorized or not.
He also advised against driving a boat distracted or under the influence.
"Last year, our game wardens arrested 259 people for boating under the influence," England said. "This year, we've already made 16 BUI arrests, and the summer hasn't even started. This is your warning."
England said the DNR has seen an increase in recent years in violations of the "100-foot law" and the "200-foot law." The 100-foot law requires boats to operate at idle speed within 100 feet of people, docks, other vessels, swimming areas or objects, including the shoreline.
The 200-foot rule requires wake boat operators to stay at least 200 feet away from docks, people and other structures.
"Violating these laws doesn't endanger the operator, it puts everyone on the water at risk. Our game wardens will be out in full force this weekend, and all summer long," England said. "Our goal is simple, for everyone to enjoy Georgia's waterways and to go home safely at the end of the day, and getting unsafe and irresponsible operators off the water is one of the best ways to make sure that happens."
http://accesswdun.com/article/2025/5/1291408/state-officials-issue-safe-boating-advisories-ahead-of-memorial-day-weekend