In May, Governor Brian Kemp signed into law the state's first regulations on wakeboarding and wakesurfing. Generally, the new regulation:
- requires operators to stay at least 200 feet from any moored vessel, wharf, dock, pier, piling or bridge structure or abutment; and any shoreline adjacent to a full-time or part-time residence, public park, public beach, public swimming area, marina, restaurant or other public-use area;
- requires riders engaging in towed watersports must wear a personal flotation device; and
- prohibits wakesurfing and wakeboarding between sunset and sunrise.
This legislation aims to protect the shoreline and lake properties and is another example of putting the value of land a priority in Georgia.