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New laws greet Memorial Day weekend boaters

When an estimated 300,000 visitors converge on Lake Lanier this holiday weekend, they'll be subject to Georgia's new boating laws.

Thanks to legislation passed this year and signed into law by Gov. Nathan Deal, boaters can be charged with BUI if their blood alcohol content is .08, the same as drivers. Previously the level was .10.

The law is named after two brothers, Jake and Griffin Prince, who were killed by a suspected drunk boater last summer on the lake.

"We have always aggressively enforced boating under the influence and we will continue to do that," says Sgt. Mike Burgamy, DNR supervisor at Lake Lanier.

Another new law aimed at protecting children will also be enforced this weekend.

The Kyle Glover Boat Education Law requires children under the age of 13 to wear a life vest while riding in a moving boat.  It's named for the step-son of R&B singer Usher who was also killed last summer on Lanier when a jet ski hit his inner tube.

"If we see a child that looks questionable in age that may look like they're 12 or under, and they're out in the open air and the boat is going down the lake, we're going to stop and check," says Burgamy.

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