A couple of fatal boating accidents involving alcohol on Lake Lanier is prompting state leaders to look at toughening Georgia’s BUI  laws.

House Speaker David Ralston (R-Blue Ridge) told reporters that he along with Gov. Nathan Deal are planning to introduce legislation in January that would make blood alcohol levels the same for both boating and driving under the influence.

“We have what I believe is a tragic gap in our law that allows people to boat with a higher blood alcohol legally than drive a car,” he says.

The legislation would reduce that amount for a BUI from .10 to .08, the same as that for a DUI.

In April, 59-year-old Stephen Blake Jones of Duluth was killed and Sharon Ezell of Milledgeville was seriously injured when the Department of Natural Resources says their boat was hit by 32-year-old Steven Brent Parker.

The Cumming man is facing two felony charges of homicide by vessel and serious injury by vessel as well BUI and reckless operation of a vessel.

In June, 9-year-old Jake Prince and his 13-year-old brother Griffin were killed when the pontoon boat they were riding on was struck by Paul Bennett.  So far, he has only been charged with BUI but could face additional charges.