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Countdown begins to stricter boating laws on N.C. lakes
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Published: July 15, 2009
Boater education will be mandatory for vessel operators 25 years or younger on Lake Norman when a new state law becomes effective next May 1.
North Carolina Senate Bill 43 was ratified by the General Assembly and signed by Gov. Beverly Perdue last Friday. The law requires boaters born on or after Jan. 1, 1984, to be certified by passing a boating safety course before they can operate any water craft with a 10 horsepower-or-larger motor.
The law pertains to all bodies of water in North Carolina and not just Lake Norman.
Jeff Stewart of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Division 26 told the Lake Norman Marine Commission on Monday that the bill is a watered down version of the original. The auxiliary had wanted certification to be required for boaters of all ages with a $100 penalty for violators.
The new law subjects violators to court costs only.
At Monday's LNMC meeting at the Charles Mack Citizen Center, Stewart urged boaters to avoid the rush next spring by taking the required 8-hour boating safety class now. The $45 class is taught by the Lake Norman Sail and Power Squadron, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, and Lighthouse Marine Service.
Boaters not wishing to take the course can opt for a proctored equivalency exam. For a schedule and more information visit the Lake Norman Marine Commission (LNMC) website at www.lnmc.org
Stewart commended Mark Lancaster of Lancaster Custom Dock and Shorelines for insuring all his employees had already received their certifications.
Stewart said Lancaster's business had operated for over twenty years on Lake Norman without an accident or a citation on the water.
Also Monday, lake commissioners discussed the possibility of creating an events ordinance to alert lake patrols and the public when fishing tournaments, poker runs and other on-water competitions are occurring.
A similar ordinance already exists for rafting events such as the upcoming Lake Norman AquaPalooza, with an application that must be approved by the LNMC and signed by a lake law enforcement agency.
LNMC Chairman Sam Ausband said he has received numerous complaints from the public about the noise, extra traffic at boat access ramps, and wakes generated from big boats speeding to their destinations during competitions.
"The concern is out there," he said. "How can we make the public feel better?"
Lake commissioners' views varied on whether additional regulations would be the answer. "The loud go-fast boats are a real serious issue," said Commissioner Rich Permenter of Lincoln County. "I have been out on the lake when some of these events are taking place and it's not pleasant."
Commissioner Ron Shoultz of Iredell County disagreed saying the events, often promote charitable causes, bring money into the area. "Big boats have the right to enjoy the lake and as long as they are abiding by rules and regulations, to restrict that is fundamentally incorrect," he said after the meeting.
Commissioner Nate Davis of Mecklenburg County said people hosting tournaments haven't been well received by LNMC in the past.
"We've run these people off, because when they have come here, we've come down on them," he said.
Ausband recommended taking a more in-depth look at the issue at their next meeting.
In other action, the LNMC granted county health departments the authority to temporarily place buoys and signage in areas where contamination or hazardous conditions suddenly make the water unsafe for swimmers and boaters.
Commissioners also approved the budget for fiscal year 2010, retroactively effective July 1, with each of the four lake counties -- Iredell, Mecklenburg, Catawba, Lincoln -- responsible for contributing $25,500. The counties' portion is the same as the amount requested last year.
Regina Stone, community coordinator for the Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation, is seeking boaters to help shuttle volunteers during the Oct. 3 Big Sweep clean-up on Lake Norman. To volunteer, call 704-679-9494 or send an email to Regina@CatawbaRiverkeeper.org
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