hb849.html
07 LC 28 3727
House Bill 849
By: Representative Scott of the 153rd

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT


To amend Article 1 of Chapter 7 of Title 52 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions concerning watercraft, so as to provide definitions; to provide that certain vessels must be equipped with marine radios, emergency position indicating radio beacons, or personal locator beacons; to provide for applicability; to provide for penalties; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:

SECTION 1.
Article 1 of Chapter 7 of Title 52 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions concerning watercraft, is amended by adding a new Code section to read as follows:
"52-7-8.4.
(a) As used in this Code section, the term:
(1) 'Emergency position indicating radio beacon' means an electronic device that, when activated, transmits a distress call on a designated emergency frequency to a radio or satellite receiver and is used by rescue personnel to locate the position of the signal.
(2) 'Personal locator beacon' means an electronic device operating at 406 MHz as a Category 1 PLB as defined by the Radio Technical Commission for Maritime Services.
(3) 'Vessel' means every description of watercraft, other than a seaplane on water, used or capable of being used as a means of transportation on the water.
(b) No person shall operate any vessel required to be numbered by a state or documented by the United States Coast Guard or any manual or sail propelled vessels not required to be numbered by a state or documented by the United States Coast Guard on any coastal waters within the jurisdiction of this state beyond one mile of shore unless such vessel is equipped with a properly functioning fixed mount or handheld marine VHF-FM radio (156-162 MHz band), an emergency position indicating radio beacon, or a personal locator beacon.

(c) Emergency position indicating radio beacons shall be approved by the Federal Communications Commission and COSPAS-SARSAT, an international search and rescue organization. The emergency position indicating radio beacons shall be registered with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Admininstration.
(d) This Code section shall not apply to canoes, kayaks, personal watercraft, and training sailboats when such vessels are accompanied by at least one vessel that complies with subsection (b) of this Code section.
(c) Any person who violates this Code section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor."

SECTION 2.
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.