New Boating Law in Georgia

As of July 1, 2014, new boating laws take effect in Georgia regarding mandatory boater education for young people.

As of May 15, 2013, legislation required all boats to have personal flotation devices (PFD) for each person on board.

Making young people under 13 years old wear a everyone under the age of 13 must wear a U. S. Coast Guard approved PFD while onboard any moving boat, except for when a child is in a fully enclosed cabin.

No, PFDs do not look cool to young people.  Yes, adults will be ticketed if passengers on their boats are not properly wearing life preservers / PFDs.

Now, a boater education course must be successfully completed before operators born on or after January 1, 1998 may drive a vessel.

“In an effort to provide a mechanism for ensuring that Georgia boaters are knowledgeable, boaters will be required to complete a boating education course,” says DNR Lt. Col. Jeff Weaver, assistant director of Law Enforcement. “After all, tragedy can happen quickly and making an effort to learn boating laws, rules and regulations can potentially save a life – including your own.”

There are three ways to take the mandatory boating education course: in a classroom, online or in a home study program.

Most boat rental facilities offer the course, which must be passed, before young Georgians can operate a vessel on public waters.

Georgia and South Carolina Rattled By Earthquake

Yes, we do get earthquakes here in Georgia.

My Feature on Jonathan Colehower in HUB Magazine

The Technology Association of Georgia (TAG) has released the first issue of their new magazine "HUB Magazine" which focuses on technology companies in Georgia.

I was honored to do a feature on Manhattan Associates' Jonathan Colehower who is doing a great thing for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

That's the first page... you can download the magazine for free and read the entire inspiration piece and the rest of this great magazine here:

http://www.magcloud.com/browse/issue/445296/follow

Georgia Hit With Football Recruiting Violation Because of Tennis

Seth Emerson does a pretty good job giving the details in this piece on Macon.com.

http://www.macon.com/2012/09/25/2190784/tennis-anyone-well-better-pay.html

Basically, the University of Georgia reported itself for a violation because a football recruit gain entry to the tennis complex in Athens for free back in May during the NCAA Championships.

Huh?

Guess the NCAA had nothing better to do, or should I say a ticket taker had nothing better to do that report this seconday violation.

Beryl Barrels to U.S. Coast

Tropical storm warnings were in effect for the entire Georgia coastline, as well as parts of Florida and South Carolina, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami.

Beryl was technically still considered a “subtropical storm,” but the system is expected to bring winds and rain to the area regardless of its official classification.

Tropical storm conditions — meaning maximum sustained winds of 45 mph — could reach the coast as early as Saturday night. Three to six inches of rain are forecast for the area. Some coastal flooding is forecast, as the rain could cause high tides.

As of 8 p.m. EDT Saturday, Beryl was still centered about 220 miles east-southeast of Charleston, S.C. It had become stronger, with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph. It was moving southwest at 6 mph, with its center expected to be near the coast by late Sunday.

Beryl could dump heavy rain in the coastal counties of Georgia, and will bring a chance of rain to metro Atlanta by the end of the holiday weekend.

Until then, metro Atlantans can expect hot and dry weather on Saturday and Sunday, with afternoon highs climbing to within a degree or two of the 94-degree record set in 1936.