Title 52

(a) Any person who, without malice aforethought, causes the death of another person through the violation of subsection (j) of Code Section 52-7-8.2, Code Section 52-7-12 or 52-7-12.1, subsection (b) of Code Section 52-7-13, or subsection (c) of Code Section 52-7-25 commits the o…

(a) For the purposes of this Code section, the term ‘‘unborn child’’ means a member of the species homo sapiens at any stage of development who is carried in the womb. (b)(1) A person commits the offense of feticide by vessel in the first degree if he or she causes the death of an…

Whoever, without malice, shall cause bodily harm to another by depriving him or her of a member of his or her body, by rendering a member of his or her body useless, by seriously disfiguring his or her body or a member thereof, or by causing organic brain damage which renders the …

(a) The test or tests required under Code Section 52-7-12 shall be administered as soon as possible at the request of a law enforcement officer having reasonable grounds to believe that the person has been operating or was in actual physical control of a moving vessel upon the wa…

(a) Any operator’s privilege to operate a vessel on the waters of this state required to be suspended under subsection (d) of Code Section 52-7-12.5 shall be suspended subject to the following terms and conditions: (1) Upon the first suspension pursuant to subsection (d) of Code S…

(a) Except as provided for in Code Sections 52-7-12, 52-7-12.5, and 52-7-12.6, and notwithstanding criminal proceedings that may be initiated by law, upon a determination by the department that a person has violated this chapter or any rule or regulation promulgated pursuant ther…

(a)(1) The following are established as boating safety zones from May 1 through the following September 30: (A) The ocean waters adjacent to Jekyll Island, which shall include all those waters for a distance of 1,000 feet from the high-water mark on Jekyll Beach from the northern…

(a) Duty to render assistance and identify vessel and self. It shall be the duty of the operator of a vessel involved in a collision, accident, or other casualty, so far as he can do so without serious danger to his own vessel, crew, and passengers, to render to other persons aff…

In accordance with any request duly made by an authorized official or agency of the United States, any information compiled or otherwise available to the department pursuant to subsection (c) of Code Section 52-7-14 shall be transmitted to such official or agency of the United St…

(a) No person shall operate a vessel on any of the waters of this state for towing a person or persons on water skis, aquaplane, surfboard, or any similar device unless the vessel is equipped with a wide-angle mirror mounted in such a manner as to permit the operator of the vesse…

(a) The speed of each vessel shall at all times be regulated so as to avoid danger or injury or damage or unnecessary inconvenience, directly or by the effect of the wash or wave raised by the vessel, while in the vicinity of swimming areas, docks, floating boat houses, moored boa…

(a) All vessels operating on the coastal waters of this state shall conform to the ‘‘Steering and Sailing Rules’’ established by Section II, Rules 11 through 18, of the International Navigation Rules Act of 1977, as amended. (b) All vessels operating on the inland waters of this …

(a) The department may regulate the holding of regattas, boat races, marine parades, tournaments, or exhibitions which by their nature, circumstance, or location will introduce extra or unusual hazards to the safety or lives of participants or observers or will subject the water …

It is the policy of this state to promote safety for persons and property in and connected with the use, operation, and equipment of vessels and to promote the uniformity of laws relating thereto. History. — Ga. L. 1973, p. 1427, § 2.

(a) As used in this Code section, the term: (1) ‘‘Aids to navigation’’ means buoys, beacons, or other fixed objects in the water which are used to mark obstructions to navigation or to direct navigation through safe channels. (2) ‘‘Regulatory markers’’ means any anchored or fixed m…

(a) This article and other applicable laws of this state shall govern the operation, equipment, and numbering of vessels and all other matters relating thereto, whenever any vessel shall be operated on the waters of this state or when any activity regulated by this article shall …

(a) The department shall establish a comprehensive boating education program and may seek the cooperation of boatmen, the federal government, and other states. The department may accept moneys made available under federal safety programs and may issue boating certificates to perso…

The Board of Natural Resources is authorized to adopt any regulations necessary for the administration and enforcement of this article, including, but not limited to, regulations setting forth the criteria for determining when an indemnity bond shall be required under Code Sectio…

A copy of the regulations adopted pursuant to this article and of any amendments thereto shall be filed in the office of the department and in the office of the Secretary of State. Rules and regulations shall be published by the department in a convenient form. History. — Ga. L. 1…

(a) Any person empowered to enforce this article and any rule or regulation adopted pursuant hereto shall have the authority to stop and board any vessel subject to this article or any such regulation for the purpose of inspection or determining compliance with this article and i…

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this article, any person who violates this article or any rule or regulation promulgated hereunder shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. For purposes of establishing criminal violations of the rules and regulations promulgated by the board as provi…

As used in this article, the term: (1) The term ‘‘alcohol concentration’’ means grams of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood or grams of alcohol per 210 liters of breath. (1.1) ‘‘Blind point’’ means that portion of any of the waters of this state in which there is a natural or m…

The Interstate Boating Violator Compact is enacted into law and entered into by the State of Georgia with any and all states legally joining therein in accordance with its terms. The compact is substantially as follows: ‘‘INTERSTATE BOATING VIOLATOR COMPACT ARTICLE I. TITLE This …

(a) The commissioner of natural resources shall appoint an Interstate Boating Violator Compact administrator for this state. Such administrator shall serve at the pleasure of the commissioner. (b) The department may suspend the operating privileges of any person to operate a vess…

(a) Every vessel using the waters of this state shall be numbered, except those vessels exempted by Code Section 52-7-6 and those vessels documented by the United States Coast Guard and licensed pursuant to Code Section 27-2-8. No person shall operate or give permission for the o…

(a) The owner of each vessel required to be numbered by this article shall file an application for a certificate of number with the department on forms containing such information required by the department. Upon receipt of the completed application and any other required informati…

A vessel shall not be required to be numbered under Code Sections 52-7-4 and 52-7-5 if it is: (1) Not motor propelled; provided, however, that sailboats 12 feet or more in length shall require registration; (2) Covered by a certificate of number in full force and effect which has …

(a) Any dealer may obtain certificates of number to be used only for the purpose of testing or demonstrating vessels owned by the dealer. The fee for the first certificate of number issued to any dealer for each vessel classification shall be the same fee as prescribed in subsection …

(a) No person shall operate on the waters of this state a vessel manufactured after November 1, 1972, unless the vessel displays an assigned hull identification number as required by the United States Coast Guard or by the issuing authority, except any of those vessels exempted by…

Each vessel manufactured or built after April 14, 2006, for sale in this state shall have a hull identification number displayed prior to sale or delivery for sale in accordance with federal law and this article. The hull identification number shall not be altered or replaced by th…

(a) If the hull identification number on a vessel required by Code Section 52-7-7.1 or 52-7-7.2 to have a hull identification number does not exist or has been altered, removed, destroyed, covered, or defaced or the real identity of the vessel cannot be determined, the vessel, and …

(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to knowingly possess, manufacture, sell or exchange, offer to sell or exchange, aid in the sale or exchange, supply in blank, authorize, direct, or give away any counterfeit HIN, any counterfeit manufacturer’s vessel HIN plate or decal, or …

A vessel shall not be required to have a hull identification number under Code Section 52-7-7.1 or 52-7-7.2 if it is: (1) An innertube; or (2) A vessel used exclusively for racing. History. — Code 1981, § 52-7-7.6, enacted by Ga. L. 2006, p. 96, § 5/HB 1490.

(a) Classification. Vessels subject to the provisions of this article shall be divided into four classes as follows: (1) Class A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Less than 16 feet in length (2) Class 1 .................................... 16 feet or ov…

(a)(1) The General Assembly finds that because of the increasing number of vessels having marine toilets which are operated or moored on Allatoona Lake, Lake Blackshear, Clarks Hill Lake, Hartwell Lake, Lake Sidney Lanier, Lake Oconee, Lake Seminole, Lake Sinclair, Russell Lake, W…

(a) As used in this Code section, the term: (1) ‘‘Accompanied by’’ means in the physical presence within the vessel of a person who is not under the influence of alcohol, toxic vapors, or drugs to a degree which would constitute a violation of Code Section 52-7-12 were such person…

(a) A person 16 years of age or older may operate any vessel or personal watercraft on any of the waters of this state if such person has met the applicable requirements of Code Section 52-7-22, and such person has in such vessel proper identification. (b) A person 12 through 15 y…

(a) As used in this Code section, the term: (1) ‘‘Anchorage restriction areas’’ means areas within the estuarine areas of this state in any location that lies within 300 feet of a marina, 150 feet from a marine structure other than a marina, or within 500 feet of approved commerc…

(a) The owner of a boat livery shall cause to be kept a record of the name and address of the person or persons hiring any vessel, the identification number thereof, the departure date and time, and the expected time of return. The record shall be preserved for at least six months…

As used in this article, the term: (1) ‘‘Capacity plate’’ means a plate attached to watercraft with information thereon as provided in this article. (2) ‘‘Manufacturer’’ means a person, firm, or corporation who constructs or assembles a watercraft or alters a watercraft in such ma…

It shall be unlawful to manufacture, sell, or offer for sale in this state any watercraft to which a capacity plate has not been attached. History. — Ga. L. 1971, p. 419, § 2.

A capacity plate shall bear the following information, permanently marked thereon in such manner as to be clearly visible and legible from the position designed or normally intended to be occupied by the operator of the watercraft when the watercraft is in operation: (1) For all …

The information relating to maximum capacity which is required to appear on capacity plates by Code Section 52-7-42 shall be determined in accordance with such methods and formulas as shall be prescribed by rules or regulations adopted by the Board of Natural Resources. In prescr…

Any person may affix a capacity plate to any watercraft to which this article applies and which does not have a capacity plate meeting the requirements of law affixed thereto by the manufacturer thereof in accordance with such rules and regulations as the Board of Natural Resourc…

The information appearing on a capacity plate shall be deemed to be a warranty: (1) That the manufacturer or other person affixing a capacity plate as permitted by Code Section 52-7-44 has correctly and faithfully employed a method and formula for the calculation of maximum weigh…

If any watercraft which is required by this article to have a capacity plate affixed thereto is of such design or construction as to make it impracticable or undesirable to affix such plate, the manufacturer or other person having the responsibility for affixing the plate may rep…