The S.C. Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division will again be conducting courtesy safety inspections at some public boat landings in an effort to keep state waterways safe during the upcoming July 4th holiday weekend. As of mid-June this year there have been 13 boating fatalities. This compares to a total of 16 boating fatalities in 2007.

S.C. Department of Natural Resources (DNR) boating safety and enforcement officers will perform a quick, but thorough, inspection for items such as required safety equipment and proper boat and motor registration. Those who are not in compliance with safety regulations or registration requirements will not be ticketed during the complimentary inspections. Boaters will be given an opportunity to correct the problem before they launch. DNR officers will also be available to answer questions and give boaters tips on how to stay safe on the water.

"Twelve of the thirteen fatal fatalities so far this year were preventable because people were not wearing a personal flotation device (PFD)," says Col. Alvin Taylor, head of DNR Law Enforcement. "The bottom line is PFDs save lives, so put on your life jacket before you board your boat and don't take it off until the voyage is over."

To report boating violations such as reckless operation or an intoxicated boat operator, call the DNR toll-free, 24-hour hotline at 1-800-922-5431. For a copy of South Carolina’s boating regulations, to find out about local boating safety courses or to obtain a free float plan form contact the DNR Boating Safety Office at 1-800-277-4301.

Courtesy safety inspections at the following locations and times:

• Broad River                                                            
  Cherokee County/Pick Hill Landing (8 a.m. - 10 a.m. – July 4)                    
  99 Island Landing (8 a.m. - 10 a.m. – July 5)
• Congaree River                                                                   
  Bates Bridge/601 Bridge (7 a.m. - 9 a.m. – July 4) – (7 a.m. - 9 a.m. – July 6)        
  Billy Tolar (7 a.m. - 9 a.m. – July 5) 
• Beaufort & Colleton Counties                                                                                                        
  Pinckney Island (9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. – July 4)
  All Joy Landing (9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. – July 5)     
  Sands Landing            (10 a.m. - 1 p.m. – July 6)
• (Upper) Charleston & Berkeley counties                                                                
  Buck Hall (9 a.m. – Noon – July 4)                                                               
  Canal Lakes Resort (9 a.m. – Noon – July 5)
  Remelys Point (9 a.m. – Noon – July 6)                                
• (Lower) Charleston County                                                             
  Leeds Ave (9 a.m. – Noon – July 4)                                                  
  Wappoo Cut (9 a.m. – Noon – July 5)                                               
  Folly Landing (11 a.m. - 2 p.m. – July 6
• Florence – Darlington – Marion - Williamsburg counties                                                               
  Dargans Pond (8 a.m. - 10 a.m. – July 5)      
  Big Pee Dee - Dewitts Bluff  (1 p.m. - 3 p.m. – July 6)       
  Big Pee Dee - Hwy. 34 (10 a.m. – Noon – July 5)    
  Big Pee Dee - Hwy. 301 (9 a.m. - 11 a.m. – July 6)  
  Little Pee Dee at Galivants Ferry (9 a.m. - 11 a.m. – July 5) 
  Santee River - Hwy. 52 (9 a.m. - 11 a.m. – July 4)
• Georgetown County                                                                       
  South Island Ferry (9 a.m. – Noon – July 4)                                                 
  Browns Ferry Landing (9 a.m. – Noon – July 5)
  Hagley Landing (9 a.m. – Noon – July 6)
• Hampton & Jasper Counties                                                                       
  Battery Creek Boat Ramp (10 a.m. - 1 p.m. – July 4)                                                           
  Millstone Boat Landing (10 a.m. - 1 p.m. – July 5)   
  Lemon Island Landing (10 a.m. – 1 p.m. – July 6)
• Horry County                                                                      
  Highway 701 - Pee Dee River (9 a.m. – Noon – July 4)                                                       
  Savannah Bluff - Conway (9 a.m. – Noon – July 5) 
  Peachtree Landing (9 a.m. – Noon – July 6)
• Lake Blalock                                                                       
  Main Ramp (9 a.m. – 11 a.m. – July 5)
• Lake Bowen                                                            
  Main Ramp (9 a.m. – 11 a.m. – July 4) – (9 a.m. – 11 a.m. – July 6)
• Lake Greenwood                                                                
  Reeders Boat Landing (10 a.m. – Noon – July 4) – (Noon - 2 p.m. – July 5) – (Noon - 2 p.m. – July 6)
  Greenwood State Park (10 a.m. – Noon – July 4) – (Noon - 2 p.m. – July 5) – (Noon - 2 p.m. – July 6)
• Lake Hartwell                                                                     
  Hurricane Creek Landing (10 a.m. – Noon – July 4) – (Noon - 2 p.m. – July 5) – (Noon - 2 p.m. – July 6)        
  Twelve Mile Park (10 a.m. – Noon – July 5)
• Lake Jocasee
  Main Ramp (10 a.m. – Noon – July 5)           
• Lake Keowee                                                                      
  Gap Hill Landing (10 a.m. – 12 p.m. – July 4) – (10 a.m. - 12 p.m. – July 6)           
  South Cove Park (10 a.m. – Noon – July 4) – (10 a.m. – Noon – July 6)
• Lake Marion                                                            
  Alex Harvin Landing - Clarendon Co. (10 a.m. – Noon – July 4) – (10 a.m. – Noon – July 5) – (10 a.m. – Noon - July 6) 
  State Park - Orangeburg Co. (6 p.m. - 8 p.m. – July 4) – (7 a.m. - 10 a.m. – July 5) - (7 a.m. - 10 a.m. – July 6)
  Packs Landing- Sumter Co. (10 a.m. – Noon – July 4) - (10 a.m. – Noon – July 5) – (10 a.m. –Noon – July 6)
  Low Fall Landing - Calhoun Co. (6 p.m. - 8 p.m. – July 4) – (7 a.m. - 10 a.m. – July 5) – (7 a.m. - 10 a.m. – July 6)  
  White Oak - Clarendon Co. (10 a.m. – Noon – July 4) - (10 a.m. – Noon – July 5) – (10 a.m. – Noon – July 6)
• Lake Murray                                                                       
  Lake Murray Dam - Irmo Side (8 a.m. – 10 a.m. – July 4) - (8 a.m. - 10 a.m. – July5) - (8 a.m. - 10 a.m. – July 6)              
  Billy Dreher Island - Newberry Co. (7 a.m. - 9 a.m. – July 4) - (7 a.m. - 9 a.m. – July 5) - (7 a.m. - 9 a.m. – July 6) 
  SCE&G Ramp #3 - Saluda Co. (8 a.m. - 10 a.m. – July 4) – (8 a.m. - 10 a.m. – July 5) – (8 a.m. - 10 a.m. – July 6)
• Lake Robinson (Darlington/Chesterfield counties)                                    
  Morrison Bridge (10 a.m. – Noon – July 5)   
  Johnsons Landing (1 p.m. - 3 p.m. – July 4)
• Lake Robinson (Greenville Co.)                                                                 
  Main Ramp (9 a.m. – 11 a.m. – July 5)
• Lake Secession                                                                    
  Barton's Landing (10 a.m. – Noon – July 4) – (Noon - 2 p.m. – July 5) – (Noon - 2 p.m. – July 6)
• Lake Thurmond                                                                  
  Parksville Boat Landing (10 a.m. - 12 p.m. – July 4)            
  Scotts Ferry Landing  (Noon - 2 p.m. – July 5)         
  Dorn Landing (Noon - 2 p.m. – July 6)
• Lake Wallace                                              
  Lake Wallace Public Ramp (1 p.m. - 3 p.m. – July 6)
• Lake Wateree                                                                      
  Dutchman Creek Landing (2 p.m. - 4 p.m. – July 4)                         
  Clearwater Cove (10 a.m. – Noon – July 5)                          
  Wateree State Park (10 a.m. – Noon – July 6)
• Lake Wylie                                                              
  Ebenezer Boat Landing (10 a.m. – Noon – July 4) – (4 p.m. - 6 p.m. – July 5) – (2 p.m. - 4 p.m. – July 6)        
• Saluda Lake                                                            
  Main Ramp (9 a.m. – 11 a.m. – July 4) – (9 a.m. - 11 a.m. – July 6)                                     
• Union County                                                                     
  Neal Shoal Landing (8 a.m. - 10 a.m. – July 5)         
  Lake John D. Long (8 a.m. - 10 a.m. – July 4)

DNR protects and manages South Carolina's natural resources by making wise and balanced decisions for the benefit of the state's natural resources and its people.