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Know minimum
age requirements before operating a boat
The Georgia Department of Natural Resources reminds
boaters under the age of 16 that there is a minimum age requirement
to operate a boat or personal watercraft (PWC) on public lakes and
waterways. Young boaters can satisfy the minimum age requirements of
this law by taking a boating safety course or by operating a boat
under the supervision or in the accompaniment of an adult. The DNR
encourages adults to never leave young children unattended on
vessels.
“Minimum age requirements are a necessity for the
safety of the operator of the vessel as well as everyone else on the
water,” says Lt. Col. Jeff Weaver, DNR assistant chief of Law
Enforcement. “Just like the privilege of driving a car, young people
should take the operation of a personal watercraft or other vessel
very seriously and realize that they can avoid a serious incident by
educating themselves about boating safety.”
Minimum boat operator age requirements are based on
the age of the boat operator and the size of the vessel. For a
complete listing of what ages can legally operate what type of
vessel, visit
www.goboatgeorgia.com
and select “Boating,” “Boating Regulations” and then “Who can
operate a boat?” or contact a DNR Law Enforcement office.
In Georgia, there are three ways young boat operators
can take a boating safety course to satisfy the requirements of the
minimum age law: classroom, online or a home study course. Visit
www.goboatgeorgia.com(Select
“Boating” then “Boating Education”).
In a recent analysis, the National Association of
State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) revealed that over the
past 10 years, a number of adults have left a child unattended on a
vessel (specifically PWCs).
This situation often resulted in the child starting
the engine and taking off, leading to injury or even death of the
child.
“Safety regarding children and boating cannot be
emphasized often enough,” Weaver said. Being proactively safe is
important. Weaver advises boat operators to:
• Never leave a young child unattended on a vessel in
the water.
• Always remove the lanyard attached to the engine
cut-off switch when the vessel is docked, beached or otherwise
unattended.
For more information on boating safety, visit
www.goboatgeorgia.com
or call a DNR Law Enforcement office: Northwest Georgia 770
769-9680; Northeast Georgia 770 535-5499.
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