ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – Boaters were out in full force for the Labor Day holiday weekend, and so was law enforcement.
As of Saturday at 11:59 p.m., the Department of Natural Resources said there have been 13 BUIs, or boating under the influence, and one boating injury.
To help keep boaters safe, park rangers at Lake Lanier shared a laminated card with boaters with some of the biggest mistakes they see boaters make.
The cards reminded boaters to have plenty of life vests on board, even for adults, to have a vessel capacity plate and to have floatation devices for all on board, to have fire extinguishers that are not expired, to have an engine cutoff switch and to have a sound-producing device like a horn whistle, or a bell.
Atlanta News First spent Monday on Lake Lanier and met two families who were putting safety first and checked every box on the card.
Carl Emery and his wife, Monica, said they work together on the water. Monica said she is the lookout while her husband does the driving.
“Especially looking for people on jet skis because they like to cut across a lot,” said Monica.
Further down the dock, the Cromwell family was loading up with their kids, and all were putting on life jackets.
“Watching out because there’s a lot of people doing things they shouldn’t do, you know drinking,” said Lee Cromwell.
While the Emerys and Cromwells had all the right gear on board, they shared that to stay safe on crowded weekends like Labor Day, safety needs to be front of mind all the time.
“Just like you’re driving on the highways of Atlanta, drive defensively and be smart and be courteous,” said Carl.
Said Cromwell: “Don’t drink and boat. I think that’s a big thing. It’s just like driving a car, without brakes, you can’t drop the anchor quick enough.”
Park rangers said they handed out more than 2,000 of the laminated guides to help keep boaters safe.
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