Lake Martin boaters may be interested that the Alabama Marine Police have answered 2 critical questions on the boat ban:
Which boats are banned? and: How will it be enforced?
Recently, the Alabama Supreme Court upheld a new law that prohibits certain boats from operating on Lake Martin, Lake Harris, and Weiss Lake.
Alabama Marine Police Captain Brooks issued this post on the Lakes Online forum to answer the questions:
“Now that the Supreme Court has made its ruling on the “3 Lakes Law” and with the recent round of posts on this forum regarding that law we thought it might be a good idea to provide an overview and update to our activities regarding this particular statute.
In a nutshell, the law prohibits the following on Lake Martin:
1. Any vessel longer than 30’6”.
2. Any houseboat.
3. Any vessel longer than 26’11” that is capable of exceeding 60 m.p.h.
Category 1 and 2 can be “grandfathered” in providing the owner prove to the Marine Police Division that the particular vessel was in use on Lake Martin prior to July 1, 2006 or offered for sale at an adjacent marina or dealer prior to that same date. The vessel’s owner is required to make application for a lake usage permit that is renewable annually and pay the corresponding fee.
When the law was originally challenged in Montgomery County Circuit Court the Commissioner of our department made the decision that we would not begin enforcement of the law until that particular challenge was decided. Once the law was upheld we began addressing several issues with the law that would make it more prosecutable in court. At the same time we were resolving these issues we had to develop the permitting process called for in the law.
Once we felt like we had the major issues resolved and our permitting process in place, we distributed the “grandfather” applications to all of the marinas on Lake Martin and then began routinely making enforcement contacts of boats affected by this law.
To date, we have issued approximately 24 warnings, which we are required to do by law on the first offense. Of those 24 vessels, 22 were found to be eligible for “grandfathering” by our officers. We issued the first offense warning to the boat operator and gave them an application for Lake Usage Permit.
As of this writing our office in Montgomery has received 14 applications and so far we have issued 6 Lake Usage Permits for Lake Martin.
Over the Labor Day weekend we also ran radar in an enforcement capacity for the first time. The fastest boat we clocked during that weekend was found to be traveling 43 m.p.h.
From our point of view, this particular law is going to have a slower impact than some people might expect. For example, a great many of the “big” boats that you see on the lake are going to meet the “grandfathering” requirements. Boats up to 26’11” in length can still pretty much travel as fast as they want as long as they are not endangering themselves or other boaters. A 26-foot boat traveling 55 m.p.h. looks a lot bigger and faster than it actually is. Some of what gets reported to us with the speed issue is mistaken identification on the part of the complainant.
That being said, though, we did notice a drop-off in the larger “go-fast” type boat and the few that we did stop were either visiting from another state or had just purchased the boat and was not aware of the law.
We look to increase our enforcement in the coming months particularly in regard to the boats that should be grandfathered but don’t display the Lake Usage Permit Decals. We are maintaining a database by registration number of the boats that have been warned and if we see that boat a second time without the permit then a citation will be issued. If you have a boat that you feel meets the grandfathering requirements, you can pick up an application from any marina on the Lake or from our office here at Wind Creek State Park.”
Thanks, Captain Brooks, for the clarification. If any reader has any questions about this law, I encourage them to contact the Marine Police at:
DISTRICT III HEADQUARTERS
126 Marina Road
Alexander City, AL 35010
256-329-2268
1-800-432-7389
What do you think? How will this affect boating on Lake Martin? Please leave a comment in the “Leave a Reply” section below. If you can’t see that section, just click on the word Comments and let us hear what you think.
We prefer the lake to be a quiet and serene retreat for retired persons who love to fish, swim,and sightsee without fear of being run over by a speed boat.
Been coming to this lake for many years. Happy to see that the ‘big’ boats are being curtailed, though the ‘grandfathering’ should be tightened up to include “IF the boat is ever taken out of the water, then it can’t come back in” to deter some eternal inclusion.
Also, if the law is hopeful to reduce shoreline erosion, certainly the proliferation of wakeboarding boats – whose wake FAR EXCEEDS that of boats of the ‘illegal lenghts’ – needs a forward thinking law.
We’ve had to replace our shoreline rocks, have had dock boards get knocked loose from UNDERNEATH by these boats, and our pier lights are regularly tripped ‘off’ by these boats. When they leave, they leave a muddy, eroded, sloshing shoreline… at the state’s formerly most ‘pristine’ lake.
Here’s hoping you can help.
Thanks for all your much appreciated efforts thus far.
Sad to see the unrelenting erosion caused by boats
@ Adams, I agree, smaller boats can kick out a big wake too. This issue, like most with boating, can be solved by common sense but I guess to some degree we must regulate by law. I know that when we wake surf we avoid small sloughs with people, boats, and seawalls.
I was surprised when the Capt. quoted such a low number of boats that might be affected. Sounds like maybe 30 or 40 boats on the entire lake. I would be interested to know if the Marine Police could give stats as to how many such boats are registered in Alabama.
I have been going to Lake Martin for years and I miss the speeds boats and all the fun! I think if you want a quiet and serene retreat than you need to go to a smaller lake or go to Smith Lake. Lake Matin is one of the only lakes in Alabama that can accommodate the speed boats and it has been sad to see all the changes! I also agree that the wakeboarding boats create a far bigger wake but do you want to take away everyone’s fun?
@Sharon – thanks for adding to the discussion…
MY WIFE AND I RECENTLY OBSERVED A STORM BLOWING THROUGH AND NOTED THAT THE STORM DID MORE DAMAGE TO OUR SHORELINE IN AN HOUR THAN WAKES DO IN A YEAR.
ALSO, MOST “BIG BOATS” RARELY EXCEED 8-10 KNOTS AND DO NOT LEAVE THE WAKE SMALLER BOATS THAT RUN MUCH FASTER DO….AND THIS INCLUDES PONTOON BOATS.
LOUD WE DO NOT APPRECIATE EITHER; BUT, THE SIZE SHOULD HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THE NEW BAN.
thanks for commenting, Greg. Please drop back by anytime.
Advantageously, the article is in reality the freshest on this precious topic. I agree with your conclusions and will thirstily look forward to your approaching updates. Saying thanks will not just be sufficient, for the tremendous lucidity in your writing. I will instantly grab your rss feed to stay privy of any updates. Genuine work and much success in your business efforts!