GEORGIA’S BOATING AND ALCOHOL LAWS

In Georgia, a person is considered to be under the influence if:

• They have a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) level of 0.08% or higher.
• They are under the influence of drugs.

Additionally, it is illegal for minors (those under 21 years of age) to operate a boat or PWC if their BAC level is 0.02% or more.

FINES AND PENALTIES

In Georgia, persons convicted of BUI will be charged with a misdemeanor punishable by fines of up to $1,000 and/or prison time for up to 1 year. They may also lose the privilege to operate a boat or PWC until they successfully complete a DUI Alcohol or Drug Use Risk Reduction Program approved by the Georgia Department of Driver Services.  

GEORGIA BOAT REGISTRATION

In order to legally operate a motorized boat, or sailboat over 12 feet in length,  you must obtain a Georgia Certificate of Boat Registration (registration card) and validation decals. The Certificate of Boat Registration must be on board during operation and be available for inspection by a law enforcement officer.

THESE VESSELS DO NOT REQUIRE REGISTRATION IN GEORGIA

• Sailboats under 12 feet in length.
• Canoes, kayaks, rowboats and rubber rafts that are human-powered (i.e., are paddled, poled, oared or windblown).
• Boats operated exclusively on private ponds or lakes.
• Boats registered in another state using Georgia waters for 60 consecutive days or less.

OTHER REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Boats documented by the U.S. Coast Guard are not required to display registration numbers, but they must display validation decals.

If your Certificate of Boat Registration or your validation decals are lost or destroyed, you must renew your registration, by submitting an application and fee, in order to obtain a replacement.

DO I NEED BOAT INSURANCE IN GEORGIA?

Boats in Georgia are not required to be insured, however it is recommended.

Boats in Georgia are required to correctly display their registration number and validations stickers. 

Registration numbers and stickers must be displayed as follows:

• The numbers must be applied as a decal, painted or permanently affixed to each side of the boat’s bow (boat owners are not permitted to display any other numbers in this area).
• The numbers must be in bold block letters that are at least 3 inches high and in a color that contrasts with the color of the boat.
• The numbers must be separated from the letters by a hyphen or by an equivalent space.
• The number must be read from left to right.
• Validation decals must be affixed on both sides of the boat, before the prefix letters of the registration number.
• These requirements also apply to personal watercraft (PWCs).

HOURS OF OPERATION

PWCs may only be legally operated from sunrise to sunset.

AGE REQUIREMENTS

All operators of PWCs in Georgia must be at least 16 years of age or older to operate a PWC, without adult supervision. 

GEORGIA PWC REGULATIONS

• Life jackets must be worn at all times by PWC operators and passengers.
• All PWCs in Georgia must be equipped with a self-circling device or lanyard-type cut-off switch. If the PWC is equipped with a lanyard style cut-off switch, the lanyard must be attached to the operator. 
• PWCs may not tow another person unless it has been designed to carry 3 passengers, to ensure there is a spotter or “observer” on board at all times.

NON-NATIVE AQUATIC SPECIES

Non-native aquatic species, plants, fish and animals are invading New York’s  waters. These pests can increase dramatically under the right conditions, displacing native species, clogging waterways, and impacting navigation and recreation.

Once introduced, they are nearly impossible to eliminate, and can be accidentally transported by recreational boaters when caught in propellers, intakes or attached to hulls. 

Be sure to report new infestations of non-native aquatic species to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at (209) 946-6400 or to your regional Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division Fisheries Office: https://georgiawildlife.com/about/contact#fish

HELP PREVENT THE SPREAD OF NON-NATIVE SPECIES

• Inspect all surfaces of your boat and remove aquatic plants or animals before leaving any body of water.
• Ensure you flush raw-water cooling systems and clean sea-strainers before moving your boat from one body of water to another.
• Empty and dry any buckets before leaving a body of water. 
• Remove any plant fragments from bait wells, fishing gear, trailers, dive gear or props. 
• Dispose of plant fragments and bait into a garbage receptacle on land.  
• Avoid chopping vegetation with your boat’s propeller.
• Clean and dry all live-wells prior to transporting your boat.
• Drain all water from your motor and bilge and dry all areas. t.
• Thoroughly wash your boat, including the hull, before putting it into a new body of water.

For more information on how to stop the spread of AIS in Georgia, visit https://georgiawildlife.com/aquatic-nuisance-species