Georgia Lifejacket Law for Children (New for 2013)

Georgia Senate Bill 136 was signed into law on April 23, 2013. Part of this new Georgia Law, amended the requirement dealing with children and Personal Flotation Devices while on a moving vessel.

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Georgia Code Section 52-7-8 was amended to require a child under the age of 13 to wear a lifejacket/ personal flotation device.  This was an increase from the previous requirement of the child being under the age of 10.  The legislative intent was child safety in light of tragic boating deaths that occurred on Lake Lanier in 2012.

The signed law reads as follows:

Chapter 7 of Title 52 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to registration, operation, and sale of watercraft, is amended by revising paragraph (3) of subsection (d) of Code Section 52-7-8, relating to classification of vessels and required equipment, as follows:

“(3) No person shall operate a moving vessel upon the waters of this state with a child under the age of ten 13 years on board such vessel unless the such child is wearing an appropriately sized personal flotation device, as required by this subsection to be on board the vessel. This requirement shall not apply when the child is within a fully enclosed roofed cabin or other fully enclosed roofed compartment or structure on the vessel.”

Hopefully, this new Georgia Law on personal flotation devices will help prevent child injuries and deaths.  Remember that regardless of whether you are an adult or a child, the most effective lifejacket is the one you actually wear.

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About the attorney:  Anne Bishop is a Georgia Lawyer with A. Bishop Law in Gainesville, Georgia and handles various DUI / DWI, Marijuana Arrests and other Georgia Criminal Defense matters.  The law office of A. Bishop Law can assist clients throughout Georgia including: Hall County (Gainesville, Oakwood, Flowery Branch), Jackson County  (Jefferson, Braselton) White County (Helen, Cleveland), Lumpkin County (Dahlonega), Dawson County (Dawsonville), Habersham County (Demorest, Cornelia), and all of Northeast Georgia.

This article and/or video should not be considered nor relied upon as legal advice since it is only intended for general overview and informational purposes. Please consult with an attorney on your specific situation in order to determine an appropriate legal course of action.