A newly enacted proximity law at Lake Martin took effect on Tuesday.

HB209 bans motorboats from operating above idle speed within 100 feet of any shoreline, dock, pier, boathouse, or other structure.   It also prohibits wakeboarding and wake-surfing within 200 feet of any shoreline, dock, pier, boathouse, or other structure and in areas less than 400′ wide.   Additional provisions of the bill restrict water sports activities between sunset and sunrise and require a United States Coast Guard Approved Flotation Device.

Authorities gave details on the implementation of the law.

“There will be an adjustment period for everyone involved – lake residents, lake users, and the Marine Patrol Division,” the ALEA Marine Patrol Division told Lake Martin Boaters. “We want to use the law to get boaters in the practice of reducing their wake (and subsequently their speeds) when approaching shorelines, docks or piers, or other structures. We also ask people to keep in mind that we are required by law to write warnings for first offenses for one year.”

Austen Shipley is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @AustenShipley