South Carolina Boating Speed Limits
The State Department of Natural Resources has decided to add ten officers to patrol the waterways next summer rather than establish speed limits. The DNR has decided to step up the amount of officers on the water to try and reduce recklessness. This comes about because of four boating deaths caused by boating accidents on May 1 on Lake Murray.
This decision has disappointed some boaters and safety advocates. They believe that setting speed limits would slow down traffic. On the other hand, other boaters and safety advocates agree that speed limits would be difficult to enforce and would take the officers off of the water to attend legal proceedings.
South Carolina has more than 400,000 registered motorboats, one of the highest numbers in the nation. There is already a boating safety course for underage operators, and courtesy inspections are routine at boat landings during holiday and high-profile boating events. While the number of boaters is increasing the number of police is decreasing due to budget cuts.
If they are unable to enforce boater safety laws or classes, there could be many more boating accidents with deadly consequences this summer. If you are unfortunate enough to be injured in a boating accident, please call The Mace Firm to schedule a free consultation with a South Carolina boating accident attorney.
Our Charleston and Myrtle Beach, SC boating accident attorneys are here to help you recover damages from a boating accident.
