Boating Safety Stressed for Labor Day Weekend

State officials say having a designated driver is a necessity.

“It’s not illegal to have alcohol on board, but you really need to think about who’s behind the wheel.  That person needs to be a sober operator,” says Sgt. Mike Barr, with the DNR.

An audio version of this story.

The department also recommends wearing life-jackets at all times while on board, and to make sure watercrafts aren’t overloaded with passengers. 

According to state officials, there’s been dozens of boating incidents in 2013, including eight fatalities.

In a move to help improve overall boating safety, the Georgia legislature this year lowered the legal limit of alcohol consumption for boaters to .08.

That change apparently has made a difference.

“For the calendar year of 2012, we recorded 118 (boating incidents).  So far this year, we are at 68, so that’s a significant drop,” says Lt. Col. Jeff Weaver, with the DNR.

There will be a new boating law going into effect next July.  

This one makes it mandatory for anyone born after 1998 to take a boating safety course before operating a vessel.