New Boating laws go on the books this weekend in Tennessee.

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – There’ll be plenty of boats on Tennessee rivers and lakes this July 4th.

But Tennessee Wildlife Resource Officers will be out there with them.

Boaters this weekend need to be aware that there are new laws going into effect at the end of this week.

David Holt with the TWRA explains the changes for us.

“July 1st of this year, we’re going to have two new boating laws put into place, the first one being kind of like what it is with the ‘move over’ law on the land, if you see flashing blue lights, from an emergency vessel, you’re supposed to yield, no wake, within a hundred feet of that vessel.”

That’s just common sense..but now its a law.

“It’s going to be the safety of the officer to, to prevent high speed people from going too close to us when we’re conducting a routine traffic stop.”

And…when you load up the family to rent a boat for the holiday…there’s some paperwork you’ll need to do first.

“If you plan on renting a vessel in the state of Tennessee, and you’re born after Jan. 1st of 1989, it is your responsibility as the boater operator to have successfully completed the boater education course, here in Tennessee or if you’re not in Tennessee, take an approved boater safety course from any other state that has an agreement with us.”

But…Not everybody has to take that course.

“If you’re born before Jan. 1st of 1989, you legally don’t have to obtain it, but I still recommend it’s a good idea if you’re new to boating, and you’re born before that date, to go ahead and take the course, ’cause there’s plenty of different safety rules and regulations that you might not be familiar with have you not taken the course.”

One other reminder for boat operators on Tennessee rivers and lakes…

“The driver’s still under the same laws that it is here on the land, if you’re consuming alcohol and, and you cannot operate the vessel if you’re over a point 08, that’s one thing that we always check for, and it’s just another safety precaution.”

Have a happy….and lawful 4th of July.