“We’re going to be looking for hazardous and reckless boat operators on the water,” said Pell City Police Chief Greg Turley.
He said the weather has turned hot and the water is up just in time for Memorial Day weekend.
“That’s great,” Turley said. “We want everybody to have fun, but also to keep safe.”
He said the Pell City Police Department will work with state conservation officers and marine police.
“We’re hoping to have 24-hour, round-the-clock, coverage of the lake this weekend,” Turley said. “Marine One (the PCPD boat) will be out there. We’ll be doing daytime and nighttime patrols.”
Local and state officials warned that the popular spot “The Rock,” along the Talladega County side of the lake, is off limits this year.
“There is no trespassing,” Turley said. “You must stay off the property.”
He said boaters can anchor out and swim there, but can’t climb up on the rock and jump off as in the past.
Alabama Marine Police Sgt. Kim Moeller said officers will arrest BUI (boating under the influence) vessel drivers this weekend on Logan Martin Lake.
“I have no doubt about it,” she said.
Moeller said if someone is convicted of BUI, they can lose their vessel license for 90 days and be fined up to $600. She said a BUI boat operator is also required to attend an alcohol education program.
The fines and sentencing get harsher with any additional conviction, she said.
Moeller said if there is a child 14 or younger in the vessel, the fines are doubled.
She said boaters need to ensure they have enough “wearable” life vests for everyone onboard a vessel.
Moeller said children eight and younger are required to wear their life vest at all times while onboard a boat or vessel.
She said it’s important that boaters follow the rules of the road during one of the busiest weekends of the summer season.
“First, have a designated driver, if you are going to have alcohol on your boat,” Moeller said.
She said most debris should be cleared from the lake, but because the water only recently came up, boaters should be on the lookout for floating debris.
Moeller said people and boaters on Logan Martin Lake who have concerns, problems or need assistance, can contact the state marine police by calling the Alabama State Troopers Office, Jacksonville Post, at 256-435-3521.
Logan Martin Lake residents and boaters can also contact the Pell City marine police directly by calling 205-753-3817.
Contact David Atchison at datchison@dailyhome.com.
