HB209 Alabama 2024 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Ed OliverRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2024

Title

Boats, motorboats, operation on Lewis Smith Lake, Lake Wedowee, and portion of Shoal Creek, wakeboarding and wakesurfing reg., operation near coastline prohibited, Lake Martin add to lake law applies; operation on lakes near shoreline prohibited, penalties, grace period.

Summary

HB209 expands wakeboarding and wakesurfing rules to Lake Martin, Weiss Lake, and Shoals Creek and adds a 100-foot idle-speed limit for motorboats near shore on those waters, with fines and a grace period before enforcement.

What This Bill Does

Extends the wakeboarding/wakesurfing restrictions to Lake Martin, Weiss Lake, and Shoals Creek north of Highway 72, defining prohibited conditions such as operating between sunset and sunrise, narrow water portions, within 200 feet of shore or structures, or without a Coast Guard‑approved life jacket. Prohibits operating a motorboat above idle speed within 100 feet of shore or structures on those waters, under the same penalties as wakeboarding/wakesurfing violations. Imposes fines: at least $100 for the first violation and at least $200 for second or subsequent violations within a calendar year, with possible revocation or suspension of boater safety or vessel operator certifications for the remainder of the year. Includes grace periods with warnings for initial violations (one year for wakeboarding/wakesurfing violations starting Sept 1, 2023; one year for idle-speed violations starting Oct 1, 2024) and allows certain exemptions for approved regattas or events.

Who It Affects

• Boaters, wakeboarders, and wakesurfers on Lake Martin, Weiss Lake, and Shoals Creek who would be subject to the wakeboarding/wakesurfing restrictions and the 100-foot idle-speed rule near shore, including possible fines and certificate actions for violations.
• Law enforcement agencies (e.g., Alabama Law Enforcement Agency) and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources responsible for enforcing the rules, issuing citations, and notifying the public about the requirements; regatta organizers may be affected by exemptions for approved events.

Key Provisions

• Adds Lake Martin, Weiss Lake, and Shoals Creek to the waters governed by wakeboarding/wakesurfing restrictions.
• Defines wakeboarding and wakesurfing and lists prohibited conditions: nighttime operation; water portions narrower than 400 feet; within 200 feet of shore or structures; and not wearing a USCG-approved PFD.
• Prohibits motorboats from operating above idle speed within 100 feet of shore or structures on the covered waters, with identical penalties.
• establishes penalties: first violation at least $100; second/subsequent violations within a calendar year at least $200; possible revocation/suspension of safety or vessel operator certificates for the calendar year;
• grace periods: one-year warning period for wakeboarding/wakesurfing violations starting Sept 1, 2023; another one-year warning period for idle-speed violations starting Oct 1, 2024.
• regatta exemption: allows certain races/events to proceed if a written marine event application is submitted and approved by the Marine Police Patrol Division.
• public notice requirement: agencies must notify the public about the requirements and prohibitions.
• effective date: October 1, 2024.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Waters & Boating