BAC limit reduction for boaters in effect today

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — A new law lowering the legal blood-alcohol content limit for boaters went into effect Wednesday morning.

Prompted by the death of two young boys on Lake Lanier last summer, lawmakers dropped the limit for drinking and boating to 0.08, the same level as driving a car.

Jake and Griffin Prince died in an accident involving alcohol on Lake Lanier while boating with family in June.

Boaters Channel 2's Sophia Choi spoke with said they'd rather be safe than sorry.

"With all the risk factors that are on Lake Lanier, it is probably a good thing," boater Scott Fuhrman said.

"When you're out on 400 or 85 or 285, you have lanes and markers. Up here, people come on a boat and forget there are any kind of rules," John Richardson of the Lake Lanier Association said.

A spokesman for the Department of Natural Resources said it wants everyone to come out and enjoy themselves on the lake, but to be smart about their decisions.

The Prince family said they were not up to discussing the new law.

WSBTV