“Floating Under the Influence” Almost Legal in Georgia
The Georgia Senate recently approved House Bill 172, which would change the state’s boating laws making clear that drinking on an inflatable raft close to shore does not equate to “boating under the influence”. This bill would allow drinking alcoholic beverages while floating on the water as long as the raft does not have a motor and is within 100 feet of the shore of any “nonflowing body of water”.
State Representative Eddie Lumsden (R-12) sponsored the bill, believing that it recognizes a “long-treasured pastime” in Georgia:
“I submit to you,” Lumsden told Senators, “that there is a significant difference between boating under the influence and floating under the influence.”
After passing the Senate on a 49-1 vote, HB 172 requires one last sign-off from the State House due to some minor changes in the bill before its final passage.
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mnh84647
I am a sophomore from Chatsworth, Georgia currently studying journalism and political science at UGA. I am interning in Washington, D.C. next year, and I hope to one day pursue a law degree.
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I’ve been breaking the law for years. What about drift boating under the influence? The next time I go fly fishing am I going to have to continue to hide my beer?
And your dynamite.
We call our dynamite, a dupont lure.
What about drunk on my truck tire tube or paddle-board or raft of political signs ? Let’s get some lawyers and lobbyists on this and meet at the lake Lodge to discuss.
“Non-flowing body of water” so Shooting the Hooch is still illegal.
Excuse me, I have some T shirts to hide
Good catch Chet… So this pretty much changes nothing…
What if you accidentally float out to 101 feet? It just never ceases to amaze me how many regulations the GOP puts on us while declaring their opposition to regulations. How many more days of this insanity are left?
This is restricted to drinking?