Despite Crowds Over Memorial Weekend, Few Major Issues on Lake Hartwell, DNR Reports

The Memorial Day holiday weekend is over, officially, and despite the stormy weather,
throngs of visitors made their way to Lake Hartwell for several days of swimming, boating and just enjoying the lake.

Law enforcement on both the Georgia and South Carolina sides of the lake were out in force making sure boaters and other watercraft operators were operating their vessels safely under state law.

DNR Law Enforcement officer Craig Fulghum says the lake was crowded overall but there were few major incidents this past weekend.

“Between the roads and the water, Lake Hartwell was as busy as I’ve ever seen it during that time period,” Fulghum said. “We had one BUI arrest in Stephens County on Saturday night. We did have a medical call on Rock Springs area on an island on Saturday night into Sunday morning where an individual supposedly went under the water and was unresponsive. However, when emergency units got there he was responsive and talking so it was not a drowning. We had a lot safety violations our officers dealt with but overall it was safe weekend, I’m proud to report.”

The BUI arrest happened at the Holcomb Access area of Lake Hartwell.

Arrested was 54-year old Jeffrey Hays of Chamblee, Georgia.

Hays is charged with Operating a Watercraft Under the Influence and Operating a Vessel with Improper Lights.

He was taken to the Stephens County Detention Center and released on a $2,500 bond, according to Stephens County Sheriff Randy Shirley.

Fulghum says citations were issued for numerous other safety violations, including young children not wearing proper life jackets, which is law in both Georgia and South Carolina.

“One of our biggest issues was life jacket wear for children under the age of 13,” Fulghum noted. “We still have issues with people not putting their children in life jackets. When the boat is underway, all children under 13 must be wearing life jackets and make sure it’s in good wearable condition. It is the law in Georgia. We issued plenty of citations for that. We want to see a day when we don’t have this issue. It should be common sense, but keep children under 13 restrained and inside that vessel with a life jacket on at all times.”

Fulghum also reminds boaters that if you are short life jackets or don’t have jackets with a proper fit, there is a free life jacket lending kiosk at the Tugalo Mega Ramp in Tugalo State Park.