Lake Lanier Legislative Caucus News

Thursday, 20 December 2012 19:06 Written by Robert Sutherland 0 Comments

Lake Lanier Legislative Caucus ~~ Photograph by Robert Sutherland

The Lake Lanier Legislative Caucus met again on Saturday, December 15, 2012. Actually, they met twice: once in Gainesville and also in Cumming, later in the day.

At the meeting in Gainesville I was surprised more people weren’t there to voice their opinions. Politicians are held in contempt by so many citizens, it seems. We don’t trust them and it’s commonly thought they wouldn’t listen to us even if we had a chance to speak our minds.

That’s a bad rap, in my humble opinion.

The public was sincerely invited to give input into how the State Legislature could create or modify laws to make Lake Lanier safer. Few accepted the offer.

The session began wisely. Senator Unterman asked for a moment of silence, in honor of the memory of the children wickedly slain the day before in Connecticut. Again, it was a sincere and solemn moment, not the kind of thing we attribute to “politicians.”

Afterward, several members of the community spoke on behalf of boater safety.

There was a discussion about the legal limits for drinking and operating a boat or personal watercraft. Some felt the limits should be the same for drivers of boats and those who drive cars and other vehicles on our highways. Interestingly, a couple of people said the current limits are sufficient because the real problems are not with drivers who have three beers or four beers, it’s the drunks behind the wheel who are far beyond the current limit.

We heard from a local volunteer who spoke of the need to provide loaner flotation devices to boaters. A terrific idea, frankly.

There was dialogue about enforcing speed limits on Lake Lanier, especially at night when the dangers are greater — especially to slower boats or fisherman out at night. That led to questions about how many boating accidents were caused by excessive speed or occurred at night.

In response, Senator Gooch asked the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) if they could provide data for the Caucus.

Today, the DNR’s response from Colonel Henderson was made public by Wildlife Resources Division Assistant Chief of Law Enforcement Lt. Colonel Jeff Weaver.

Here is their response:

The following information was retrieved from the U.S. Coast Guard Boating Accident Reporting Database showing the boating incidents from 2006 – 2012 where speed was listed as the contributing factor to the incident.

Statewide (other than Lake Lanier):

Daytime – 28
Night- time – 1
TOTAL: 29

Lake Lanier:

Daytime – 4
Night- time – 2
TOTAL: 6

Since 2006, at total of 979 boating incidents were reported statewide. Of those, 35 — or 4% – were attributed to excessive speed.

When future meetings are announced, we’ll let you know where and when they’ll be held.

We are thankful for everyone’s involvement in the process to make Lanier Lake more safe.

Click Here for GoBoatGeorgia.com

: Senator Butch Miller speaking with Jane Harrison, a real reporter. ~~ Photograph by Cub Reporter Robert Sutherland

Bennett Charged with 13 Felonies in Boat Crash

Friday, 03 August 2012 16:49 Written by Robert Sutherland 4 Comments

Nothing can bring Jake and Griffin Prince back from the boat crash that took their lives on June 18, 2012.

The man who was allegedly driving the boat that caused the wreck has been charged with more than a dozen felony counts for causing their deaths.

A Hall County grand jury handed down the charges against Paul J. Bennett, 44, of Cumming, GA. His boat ran into a pontoon boat carrying the Prince brothers and their family.

The counts against Bennett are reported to include eight counts of homicide by vessel in the first degree, although only two lives were lost. Other charges are two counts of boating under the influence of alcohol, two counts of reckless operation of a vessel, and violation of duty to render assistance.

Paul Bennett is the owner of Paul Bennett Studios, a hair salon in Johns Creek.

Although innocent until proven guilty, should Mr. Bennett be found guilty of the charges, we hope his punishment will deter others from drinking while operating water craft on Lake Lanier.

Click Here for Background Story

Prince and Hansen Family Statement

Wednesday, 04 July 2012 16:09 Written by Robert Sutherland 0 Comments

There are no words to express our community’s sense of loss and sorrow, but we extend our condolences to the families of Jake and Griffin Prince who lost two treasured children in a boating accident on Lake Lanier.

This complete statement was released by the Prince and Hansen Families on Facebook:

“June 18, 2012 will always be remembered by our family as a day of extraordinary sadness, pain and suffering; but, it will also be remembered as a day when hundreds of thousands of people, across the United States and in 19 other countries, began to open their hearts to us, to pray for us, to serve us, to contribute their time and resources to Michael, Tara, and Ryan as well as to other family members, to mitigate the financial and emotional costs associated with this tragedy.

We are humbled by this outpouring of love, and of all of the prayers which have been and continue to be offered on our behalf. We have felt the power of these prayers and we express our deepest gratitude for the faith and goodness they represent.

We are amazed at the miracles which took place as devoted and capable members of the Public Safety Community, representing many local and state and national organizations worked together as a team to fulfill the mission they had to find Griffin’s body. This was an outstanding example of how a team of professionals can accomplish even the most difficult of assignments, and of how they were motivated not just by a sense of duty, but of how this was also a work of love, which has helped to bring our beloved Griffin’s body home, so he can be honored and buried with his brother.

There will be a place of honor at the funeral for all of those in the Public Safety Community who were involved in this search and who supported the efforts of those on the scene, and those who reached out to our family in so many ways. If their schedules are such that they can attend, we want them there.

These events were all foreseen by God, and while He does not cause bad things to happen, He can provide for much good to flow from such events. Certainly, our family is living proof of this truth.

While we would gladly return all the blessings we have received from God since the day of this tragedy to have our two boys back; yet, we know that reunion will be delayed until a future time and place; so, until that time, we express our gratitude for the many blessings we receive every day.

The Public Visitation being held July 2, 2012, and the Funeral being held July 3, 2012 represent a small gift that we offer to others, as well as a time of healing for our family as we rejoice in the lives of these two beautiful boys whom we love and honor for their goodness.”

Click Here for the Original Statement

Charges Filed in April 21st Fatal Boat Accident

Monday, 02 July 2012 17:30 Written by Robert Sutherland 0 Comments

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources reports that new charges have been filed in a fatal boat crash on Lake Lanier that occurred back in April of this year.

Steven Brent Parker, 32, of Cumming, is charged with two felonies: homicide by vessel, and serious injury by vessel. Parker was also charged with Boating Under the Influence (BUI) and reckless operation of a vessel.

Conviction on both felony counts would carry a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison.

The collision on Lake Lanier killed one person and seriously injured another shortly before midnight on Saturday, April 21st.

According to the DNR, Parker was operating a ski boat that collided with a pontoon boat near Buford Dam (Lower Overlook Park) on the Gwinnett side of Lanier.

Stephen Blake Jones, 59, of Duluth, was operating the pontoon boat. Sharon Ezell of Milledgeville was also aboard.

Parker and his passenger, Ashley LeBlanc, of Cumming, swam from their damaged boat to shore and flagged down a motorist. Parker and LeBlanc were treated at a local hospital and released.

Rescuers found Jones’ body in the water. The pontoon boat with Ezell still aboard was found about 5 hours after the incident was reported. Ezell was taken in serious condition to an area hospital.

The DNR’s Critical Incident Reconstruction Team is continuing the investigation.

Col. Eddie Henderson, head of the agency’s Law Enforcement Section, said the incident is “another reminder that although boating is a safe and enjoyable activity, it can turn tragic in a split-second if boating safety laws are not followed. We strongly encourage all boaters to designate a sober operator if alcohol will be consumed on the boat.”

The initial response to the incident also involved Gwinnett County Fire, Gwinnett County Police, Forsyth County Fire and the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers.

LakeLanier.com thanks Melissa Cummings for this update.

Agencies Unite to Fight Boating Under the Influence

Thursday, 28 June 2012 18:55 Written by Robert Sutherland 0 Comments

Law enforcement agencies from the Gwinnett County Police Department and Georgia’s Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division have agreed to a new level of teamwork and cooperation to maximize their resources and presence on Lake Lanier.

Their combined Boating Safety Initiative will allow law enforcement officers to work together to enforce safety concerns and to deal with the serious problem of Boating Under the Influence (BUI).

“With limited budgets and personnel numbers, our two agencies have created an innovative way to increase the number of patrol boats and law enforcement officers on Lake Lanier,” explains Col. Eddie Henderson, Georgia DNR. “Police officers will be paired with rangers in DNR patrol boats. This will allow us to put more boats on the water year-round for high-traffic weekends, holidays and special events.”

Currently, the DNR is able to staff two to three patrol boats with four to six rangers during high-traffic weekends. Starting Saturday, June 30, the lake will have up to five boats patrolling with 10 law enforcement professionals — in time for the Fourth of July holiday week.

“Lake Lanier draws 7.5 million visitors annually, including many from Gwinnett County,” says Chief Charles Walter, Gwinnett County Police Department. “The Boating Safety Initiative will allow us to efficiently and effectively team up with the DNR to enforce safety and protect our citizens.”

Gwinnett officers will undergo intensive training on Friday, June 29, conducted by the DNR Law Enforcement Section. This will training will include instruction in boating safety, vessel laws, boat inspections, water safety, BUI enforcement, boat registration, water rescue and boat safety checks.

Existing DNR patrol boats will be used for the initiative, saving Gwinnett County the expense of adding vessels.

“This partnership is one piece of the puzzle,” says Col. Henderson. “Boating safety requires a multi-faceted approach. From the law enforcement side, we are pleased to have such strong partners with us.”

Gwinnett’s District 4 Commissioner John Heard said, “I commend the DNR and our Police Department for working together to patrol Lake Lanier. The increased presence of officers will remind residents to practice boating safety while enjoying the lake.”

Posts Tagged ‘boating under the influence’