Boaters beware of water police - WALB.com, Albany News, Weather, Sports

Boaters beware of water police

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LOWNDES COUNTY, GA (WALB) -

Got Labor Day weekend plans? A lot of people will hit the water for one last weekend of boating or swimming fun.

The Lowndes County Sheriff's Boat Patrol will work to make sure the busy weekend is a safe one.

Ending the summer with a bang on Labor Day weekend may be fun, but deputies say you need to be safe too. The Lowndes County Sheriff's Office has patrolled Long Pond in Twin Lakes for nearly ten years. Boating under the influence is their biggest concern.

"There's no choice in the matter, if someone's BUI they're going to jail. We're not going to give them a ride or let them drive the boat to the house or any thing like that, there's definitely zero tolerance for that," said Sergeant Michael Adams, Lowndes County Sheriff's Department.

Last year the boat patrol made four arrests on the lake. One was for a BUI on Labor Day. Sergeant Adams says they also hand out a lot of citations and warnings for having too many people on a boat or not having enough life jackets.

Deputies say the Long Pond intersection is the busiest and many boaters don't know that if you anchor here, you will get a warning.

Adams says homeowners on the lake are the best watchdogs.

"That's our most dangerous area of the lake and you know if someone parks on the point they're calling us, phones start ringing off the hook," said Adams.

Jim Simpson has been coming to Long Pond for 20 years and says some new boaters don't know they're supposed to drive counter clockwise around the lake.

"When you get somebody that comes out that's not used to the lake they may go the wrong way which may cause a little bit of a problem but generally people look out for each other," said Simpson.  

Adams says his job is crucial to keep the waters safe.

"It's probably top priority, if you don't come out here there will be problems, and everybody that comes out here that's a little mischievous and everything, they know where the boat's parked at," said Adams.  

Deputies haven't arrested any boaters this year, and they'll continue their patrols to keep the water safe.

Sergeant Adams also says they'll check boats with college students on them to make sure no one is drinking under age.

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