"Convervation

rangers spent last summer educating people about

the new minimum age restrictions for operating

boats and personal watercraft, but this summer,

the law will be strictly enforced," says WRD

chief of law enforcement Col. Walt Taylor.

"We don't want to take the fun out of being

on the water, but we do want people to be

safe."

Boaters

have three ways to take a boating safety course

in Georgia. The classroom course is a free,

six-hour class, taught by WRD conservation

rangers and volunteers, that covers the basics of

boating.

Contact

the local WRD law enforcement office for a list

of classes.

Boaters

also can go to boat-ed.com on the Internet,

review the material in each chapter, and take a

practice test for no charge. To receive state

certification that fulfills Georgia's

requirements for operating a boat or personal

watercraft, boaters can pay a $15 charge and take

the certified boating safety test.

Another

option for boaters is the home study course.

Boaters can receive a "Boat Georgia"

manual and a boating safety video by ordering it

on the Internet at boat-ed.com or by calling

1-800-460-9698. The cost of the course is $24.95

plus shipping and handling.

After

reading the manual and watching the video,

boaters can take the enclosed boating safety

certification test. Then, boaters mail their test

answer sheets to Boat Ed, Inc. with a $5 boating

safety certification fee to have their tests

graded in order to receive their certification.

Minimum

boat operator age requirements are based on the

age of the boat operator and size of the vessel.

For

information on the minimum age requirements for

boat operators or other boating safety issues,

phone (706) 846-8448.

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