BOATING LAWS CHANGE OCTOBER 2024

BY:  Harry DeNegre, President
Photo by:  Kenneth Boone

(This article was published in the September 2024 issue of Lake Magazine)

Things are always changing at Lake Martin. The Alabama Legislature has passed a couple of new laws that will take effect in October. There has been a lot of discussion on social media concerning these laws. Some of it has been correct, and some of it has been inaccurate. I thought I would take a stab at it. I am hoping I will be accurate and correct. To review the information directly from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, please visit ALEA.gov.

The first piece of legislation I wanted to discuss is best known as the proximity law. I believe it is also known as House Bill 209. This bill was passed and signed into law by our governor. It goes into effect Oct. 1, 2024.

 Basically, this law states that within 200 feet of any shoreline, dock, pier, boathouse or other structure on the waters of Lake Martin, a rider behind a boat is not allowed to wakeboard or wake surf.  

This bill would also prohibit the operation of a motorboat above idle speed within 100 feet from any shoreline, dock, pier, boathouse or other structure on Lake Martin.

For factual and informative purposes, you can read Alabama House Bill 209 on the Alabama legislature website.

The next piece of legislation has to do with nonresident boaters. Effective Oct. 1, 2024, nonresidents may operate a vessel upon the waters of this state only after obtaining a valid boater safety certification or vessel operator’s certification issued in his or her home state or country, or after obtaining a Nonresident Alabama Boater Safety Certification upon examination and certification under the same terms and conditions as Alabama residents.

For further clarification, please visit the Alabama Marine Patrol website.

The last legislation I wanted to discuss is House Bill 208, which dealt with the legal size limit of boats operated on Lake Martin. This bill did not pass The Alabama State Legislature and was not signed into law. The bill sought to increase the legal size of boats allowed to operate on Lake Martin from 30 feet, 6 inches to 40 feet. The Legislature decided to table this legislation at this time. Lake Martin has current signed legislation that allows for a legal length of 30 feet, 6 inches. The legal speed limit for boats on Lake Martin is 65 miles per hour. There seems to be a lot of confusion about this bill’s status. It did not pass but may come up again in the Legislature.

ALEA will be publishing this information and warning citizens for an initial period of time before enforcing these new laws with penalties. HOBOs requests that you visit the ALEA website for any clarifications or information you require pertaining to these matters.

We will hold a drive to join the Lake Martin HOBOs. Individuals can join the organization for $15. Annual membership for families is $25. We would love to have you join our organization. 

HOW TO OBTAIN BOAT OPERATORS CERTIFICATION/LICENSE

• Applicants must go to the Department of Public Safety Driver’s License Examining Office in theircounty of residence.
• Make application and pay appropriate fee ($5).
• Answer medical questions.
• Successfully complete written/oral exam or show proof of exemption (boating course certificate of completion or age exemption).
• Take the proper form to an ALEA driver license exam office to have the “V” class placed on driver’s license.
• Proof of Age: Every minor must furnish a certified copy of his/her birth certificate, original Social Security card, and a certified statement from the superintendent of the school the person attends containing name, date of birth and address.

Harry DeNegre 
President,  Lake Martin HOBOs.