Let’s make a deal on boating safety this summer: our best for your best
Mark McKinnon is the public affairs officer for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division.
Georgia is a great state for boating. Great weather, plenty of outstanding boat ramps, top-notch marinas, quiet little coves to drop anchor and relax and an outstanding group of DNR Law Enforcement Game Wardens to enforce the state’s boating laws.
“Wait a minute! Aren’t the Game Wardens just out there to ruin my fun and possibly cost me money?” you may ask.
Certainly, they are there to stop unlawful activity and to remove individuals from the lake or river who pose a danger to themselves and others. Contrary to popular belief, their goal is not just to make arrests, but rather to ensure that everyone gets home safely at the end of the day.
A Day in the Life: Georgia DNR game wardens on high alert during boating season
Georgia DNR Game Wardens are well-trained officers and want nothing more than for everyone to enjoy a fun and safe day on the water. They are the best at what they do, and they want to make a deal with you: Their best for your best.
They want anyone who enjoys the state waterways in any way this year to give your best.
No boating under the influence
First, game wardens want your best by not operating your vessel while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Drunk boaters quite often become drunk drivers. When boaters get off the water safely after a day of drinking, they often trailer the boat and hit the roadways, just as drunk as they were while in the boat.
Even prescription drugs can impair your ability to operate safely.
No warnings are issued for operating while impaired. You will go to jail. The Game Wardens can’t take the chance that you will get home without hurting yourself or someone else.
Be prepared for emergencies
Game wardens want your best when it comes to having proper safety equipment in your vessel.
Be sure that you have a properly sized, U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket for each person in the vessel. Really everyone should wear them – all the Game Wardens do. Children under 13 must be wearing them if the boat is under power or drifting.
You also must have a properly charged fire extinguisher. Be sure to have it in an easily accessible location. You don’t want to be crawling around under the dash looking for it if your boat catches fire and begins to melt into the lake.
You must have navigation lights after official sunset. Not when it is completely dark - official sunset. Dusk is one of the most difficult times of day to see other vessels.
More about law enforcement on the water: With boating accidents rising, here are three agencies tasked with watching Chatham waterways
Follow the rules
Finally, game wardens want your best at being courteous to others by following all laws and regulations.
The 100-foot law says that you must operate your vessel at idle speed when you are within 100 feet of anything - the shore, swimmers, other vessels (unless legally passing) and docks.
Jet skiers, don’t buzz docks or swimmers and don’t jump the wakes within 100 feet of a boat, or you will be pulled over and given the opportunity to provide additional funds to your local government, and possibly lose your boating privileges.
Boaters are also subject to this law.
Again, turn on your navigation lights after sunset.
Be sure that anyone born on or after January 1, 1998, is in compliance with the mandatory boater education law which says all persons born after that date must complete a DNR-approved boat education course prior to operating any motorized vessel on state waters. It is recommended that everyone take a course.
A little courtesy goes a long way.
The Game Wardens commit to you is that they will do their best to keep you safe this summer, but you must do your best if we are to be successful. Is it a deal?
For more on these topics and more, visit: http://www.gadnrle.org/.
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Boating safety this summer is a matter of life and death
