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4.4 PERMITTED CRAFT: Only craft specifically permitted by the Rules and Regulations, bearing a current registration decal, and covered by liability insurance shall be allowed to operate in or upon LSCA property. It is the responsibility of each property owner to insure that their craft meets the criteria for registration and operation on Lake Spivey, subject to these Rules and Regulations and all applicable local, state, and federal ordinances. Ownership of a craft or vehicle does not confer the privilege of using it in or upon LSCA property. The Board of Directors shall determine if a disputed craft is permitted. False registration can result in suspension of lake privileges for twelve (12) months.
4.4.1 BOATS
4.4.1.1 Boats must be operated in accordance with Georgia and federal laws; state registration is not required. Compliance with all generally accepted rules for safe operation of boats is expected. Reckless operation of a watercraft is prohibited. Violations will result in a 7.5 point penalty. (7.5pts)
4.4.1.2 No boat shall be permitted on Lake Spivey which has an overall length of twenty-nine (29) feet or more, or which is equipped with a marine toilet, or which can be used for temporary or permanent lodging. Any boat not in compliance with this requirement shall be removed from Lake Spivey immediately.
4.4.1.3 Boats with unusually noxious fumes or noises may be denied a permit decal, and any previously permitted personal watercraft subsequently altered to such condition may be required to surrender its decal.
4.4.2 PERSONAL WATERCRAFT
4.4.2.1 Personal watercraft must be operated in accordance with Georgia and federal laws; state registration is not required. Compliance with all generally accepted rules for safe operation of personal watercraft is expected.
4.4.2.2 Personal watercraft with unusually noxious fumes or noises may be denied a permit decal, and any previously permitted boat subsequently altered to such condition may be required to surrender its decal.
4.5 LIABILITY INSURANCE: All craft must be covered by a liability insurance policy.
4.6 OWNERSHIP OF CRAFT: No craft shall be operated in or upon LSCA property except those owned by property owners. Ownership may be determined by the Board of Directors including but not limited to the following criteria:
4.6.1 Bill of sale
4.6.2 Government registration
4.6.3 County ad valorem tax
4.6.4 Liability insurance policy
4.7 DISPLAY OF REGISTRATION DECALS:
4.7.1 Decals are to be conspicuously displayed one on each side of the craft.
4.7.2 Decals are to be displayed in the size and shape issued.
4.7.3 Decals are to be displayed on the forward third of the craft or in a location to make it most visible from another craft.
4.7.4 Decals are to be displayed on the upper half of the craft as measured to the waterline.
4.7.5 Old decals are to be removed each year.
4.7.6 The current year's decals must be displayed by May 1st.[5 pts]
4.8 NAVIGATIONAL HAZARDS:
4.8.1 Craft, water vehicles, floating docks, swim platforms, and other potential hazards to navigation may not be anchored unattended away from the shoreline.
4.8.2 No matter how well intended, no object may be placed in the lake to attract fish except under your own dock or under the supervision of the Lake Preservation Chair.
4.9 RAFTING:
4.9.1 Craft should avoid creating undue waves around other craft that are rafting together. Georgia law dictates that you are responsible and can be held liable for any damage that your wake creates. Maintain a safe distance from rafting watercraft. [2 pts]
4.9.2 Craft that are rafting should be out of the traffic pattern.
4.10 FISHING: Property owners, family members, and guests may fish from craft owned by the property owner in any area of Lake Spivey. There shall be no fishing on or within twenty (20) feet of any dock not owned by a member of the fishing party without permission of the dock owner. [2 pts]
4.11 SWIMMING: Property owners, family members, and guests may swim subject to their own risk. The LSCA does not provide lifeguards or other supervision for swimming.
5. LAKE SPIVEY SAFETY RULES:
5.1 SPEED LIMITS:
5.1.1 No craft shall operate in excess of 5 mph within 100 feet of craft that are moored or anchored, persons in the water, any shoreline, or docks. [3 pts]
5.1.2 Daytime speed limit is 40 mph. [5 pts]
5.1.3 Nighttime speed limit is 5 mph. [5 pts]
5.2 NIGHT OPERATION:
5.2.1 Boats operating at night must display standard running lights (360-degree white aft, red/green sectors forward). [5 pts]
5.2.2 Boats anchored, rafting or adrift at night must display 360-degree white light. [5 pts]
5.2.3 Nighttime speed limit is 5 mph. [5 pts]
5.2.4 Personal watercraft operation is prohibited between the hours of sunset and sunrise. [5 pts]
5.3 RIGHT -OF-WAY: No watercraft shall follow craft pulling skiers or other towed individuals. Lake users will be given the right-of-way in the priority indicated below: [3 pts]
5.3.1 Swimmers, bathers, and craft at anchor or adrift. [3 pts]
5.3.2 Canoes, rowboats, and paddle boats. [3 pts]
5.3.3 Sailboats. [3 pts]
5.3.4 Craft in tow. [3 pts]
5.3.5 Power boats and jet skis. [3 pts]
5.4 OPERATIONAL DISTANCES: Craft may not be anchored within fifty (50) feet of any private property, or operated within twenty-five (25) feet of the shoreline of any private property or within fifty (50) feet of any person in the water except as may be required to enter or exit a dock. [3 pts]
5.5 RACING: Racing between any and all craft is prohibited.[5 pts]
5.6 SKIING OR TOWED DEVICES:
5.6.1 Permitted only in designated areas (see accompanying map). [5 pts]
5.6.2 Craft shall be operated in general conformance with the traffic patterns shown on the accompanying map titled "Lake Spivey and Environs". [5 pts]
5.6.3 Skiers or towed devices shall not operate closer than fifty (50) feet from any dock, shoreline, dam, spillway, or marina. [5 pts]
5.6.4 No skiing or towing is permitted between the hours of sunset and sunrise. [5 pts]
5.7 EXCESSIVE WAKE: Craft shall be operated in a manner to not create an excessive wake. [3 pts]
5.8 NO WAKE AREAS:
5.8.1 Coves, inlets, bays, and canals are "no wake areas". Craft shall operate at idle speed in these areas. [5 pts]
5.8.2 The cove between The Landings and Bay View due to its larger size is a "restricted use area." Craft operators may ski in or out and otherwise operate their craft on an "in and out" basis. The intent here is to minimize unnecessary wave action and continuous use traffic in this cove. All other craft operators should observe the "no wake" limitation in this cove. [3 pts]
5.9 SLALOM COURSE:
5.9.1 The slalom course is for skiers. Personal watercraft, pontoon, deck or other wide boats may not enter the slalom. [3 pts]
5.9.2 Only one boat is allowed on the course at a time! Do not enter the slalom course area when a fellow boater is using it. Please wait your turn! [3 pts]
5.9.3 Watercraft should avoid circling the slalom course area when it is in use by a skier. Their wake can cause the skiers to unexpectedly fall and potentially injure the skiers. There is plenty of lake available for boating without creating undue waves for those skiers wishing to participate in this particular activity. [3 pts]
5.10 BOAT TRAFFIC/TRAFFIC BUOY SYSTEM: When you operate a watercraft correctly, you transit the lake in a counter-clockwise direction with the shoreline always on your right. [5 pts]
When you pass a traffic buoy, it should be on your left and the shoreline should be on your right. However, this does not preclude the watercraft operator from going outside the traffic buoy towards the middle of the lake when traveling in the proper direction. Traffic buoys are anchored offshore at points determined by the LSCA Board of Directors to be hazardous for head-on watercraft traffic. They are currently used to mark blind turns on the lake to ensure that watercraft operators maintain separation and safety. Failure to operate properly around the traffic buoys is a serious safety violation. [7.5 pts]
5.11 BOATS:
5.10.1 Minimum age requirements for boat operation are in Table 1. [7.5 pts]
5.12 PERSONAL WATERCRAFT:
5.12.1 Minimum age requirements for personal watercraft operation are in Table 1. [7.5 pts]
5.12.2 Personal watercraft will operate in accordance with the regular boat traffic pattern [5 pts] with particular emphasis on proper direction of travel around the blind corners marked by the traffic buoys. [7.5 pts]
5.12.3 No person shall operate a personal watercraft in excess of 5 miles per hour within 100 feet of any moored, anchored or adrift watercraft, dock, shoreline, or any person in the water. [3 pts]
5.12.4 Personal watercraft operators will maintain minimum separation of twenty (20) feet. [3 pts]
5.12.5 Personal watercraft operators will wear a flotation device. [5 pts]
5.12.6 Personal watercraft operators will utilize a properly installed kill switch attached to their person, when such a device is an accessory to their equipment. [5 pts]
5.12.7 Personal watercraft operators will not perform "spin-outs" or "radical turns" without checking the area behind them to assure that other watercraft are not following them too closely. [5 pts]
5.12.8 Personal watercraft operators will not follow up or jump the wake of any watercraft towing a water skier, knee boarder, or any other towed water device. [5 pts]
5.12.9 Personal watercraft operators wishing to jump wakes will remain at least 100 feet behind the moving watercraft. [3 pts]
5.12.10 Personal watercraft may not enter the slalom course. [5 pts]
5.12.11 Personal watercraft operation is prohibited between the hours of sunset and sunrise. [5 pts]
5.12.12 Personal watercraft may be used for towing if they are designed to carry at least three persons and a rear-facing spotter is present. [3 pts]
5.12.13 Personal watercraft operators ages 12, 13, 14, or 15 must carry a certificate verifying completion of a LSCA and a Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) sponsored safety course. [7.5] Operators must pass DNR course before completion of LSCA safety course. Those who have previously completed LSCA safety course will also be required to complete the DNR boating safety course.
6. ENFORCEMENT OF RULES:
6.1 The LSCA may delegate the authority to supervise and enforce these rules and regulations, and to prosecute violators in order to protect the best interests and welfare of the LSCA and of the property owners of the Lake Spivey area. Said delegation of authority may be in part or in total, as appropriate.
6.2 Enforcement agencies so designated shall not use firearms or physical contact in carrying out their delegated duties except as required for personal safety.
6.3 The LSCA may revoke temporarily or permanently the right of lake use by a property owner who violates one or more of the Rules and Regulations Governing Lake Spivey.
6.4 An application for reinstatement by any property owner whose lake privileges have been revoked will only be considered after the LSCA has been reimbursed by said property owner for all LSCA costs (including legal expenses) associated with the revocation.
6.5 POINT SYSTEM:
6.5.1 Nothing in section 6.5 shall diminish the power of the LSCA under paragraph 6.3 of Enforcement of Rules.
6.5.2 Citations may be issued by a Lake Safety Patrol Officer, the Vice President for Lake Safety, or a deputy appointed by the Vice President for Lake Safety. Deliberate non-compliance can result in points being doubled.
6.5.3 A written citation will be given to the watercraft operator. The property owner who registered the watercraft will receive a copy of the citation by mail and a statement noting the accumulated point total.
6.5.4 Suspension of lake privileges begins upon notification of the property owner.
6.5.5 Accumulation of Points
6.5.5.1 Each rules violation is assigned a points value which remains in effect for twelve (12) months from the date of infraction.
6.5.5.2 When more than one rules violation occurs on one citation, the rule with the highest point value will be used to accumulate the twelve (12) month total.
6.5.5.3 Upon accumulation of fifteen (15) points, lake privileges will be suspended for one (1) month. If the suspension is served with no incident, the property owner's point value will change to one-half the accumulated value.
6.5.5.4 Upon accumulation of fifteen (15) points a second time, lake privileges will be suspended for one (1) month. If the suspension is served with no incident, the property owner's point value will change to one-half the accumulated value.
6.5.5.5 Upon accumulation of fifteen (15) points a third time, lake privileges will be suspended for one (1) year. If the suspension is served with no incident, the property owner's point value will change to zero (0).
6.5.6 Violation of any suspension will result in automatic revocation of lake privileges for twelve (12) months.
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