Increased patrols on Lanier for Memorial Day weekend

GAINESVILLE - As Memorial Day weekend approaches, you may be planning a boating excursion on Lake Lanier. Sgt. Lee Brown with the Department of Natural Resources says you will not be alone.

DNR will have five ranger boats patrolling the lake, and other agencies will be out in full force, as well.

"The Forsyth County Sheriff's Office will be out with two patrol boats and two jet skis, and the Hall County Sheriff's Department will be out with a patrol boat and two jet skis, and then, the Hall County Fire Department will have their fire boat out this weekend," said Brown.

Brown says authorities will be keeping an eye out for those boating recklessly and those boating under the influence. In fact, Brown says the biggest complaint rangers receive is for reckless boaters.

"[We get complaints] where they'll ski or drive too close to a dock," said Brown. "You can't operate a personal watercraft, a jet ski or a boat, above idle speed, within 100-feet of a dock, a shore with a full-time or part-time residence, any kind of park, beach or swimming area or boat ramp."

Although Brown did not give specific projections for numbers of visitors this coming weekend, he says rangers anticipate much larger crowds this holiday since Lanier is full for the first time in years.