July 4th weekend is here, and so is the annual reminder that Lake Lanier — Georgia’s most popular and most punishing stretch of water — does not care how festive your float is.

What’s happening: The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office put out boating safety tips ahead of the holiday weekend, when thousands of people are expected to hit Lake Lanier. The lake, which straddles the Forsyth-Hall County line north of Atlanta, has a long and well-documented history of boating accidents and drowning deaths, especially around holiday weekends.

What this means for you: Six rules the sheriff’s office wants every boater to know before they leave the dock:

  • Wear a life jacket at all times
  • Do not drink alcohol while operating a boat
  • Check the weather and boating forecast before you go
  • Follow wake zone speed limits and rules
  • Keep your speed safe
  • Do not overload your boat

The path forward: The tips apply through the July 4th holiday weekend and beyond. If you’re heading to the lake, these simple rules could make a huge difference.

“
We need to talk about our cousin Earl. You know the one—he’s got the Confederate flag swim trunks and thinks ‘hold my beer’ is a complete strategic plan.
— B.T. Clark
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Publisher at  – btclark@thegeorgiasun.com

B.T. Clark is an award-winning journalist and the Publisher of The Georgia Sun. He has 25 years of experience in journalism and served as Managing Editor of Neighbor Newspapers in metro Atlanta for 15 years and Digital Director at Times-Journal Inc. for 8 years. His work has appeared in several newspapers throughout the state including Neighbor Newspapers, The Cherokee Tribune and The Marietta Daily Journal. He is a Georgia native and a fifth-generation Georgian.

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