Wednesday, April 24, 2013
The new law also increases penalties for those caught boating while intoxicated.
Gov. Nathan Deal signed SB 136, a bill to strengthen public safety on Georgia's waterways, on Tuesday, April 22, at the Holiday Marina at Lake Lanier. The legislation, a portion of which is known as the Jake and Griffin Prince BUI Law, lowers the legal blood-alcohol content for boaters from a 0.10 to 0.08. The new law also increases penalties for those found to be boating while intoxicated. “Far too many tragedies have occurred as a result of boating under the influence and inadequate boater education,” Deal said in a released statement. “Last June, I vowed to work with the General Assembly to pass legislation in honor of Jake and Griffin Prince, who lost their lives last summer in a tragic accident. As I have said, if you are too drunk to…
Friday, March 22, 2013
The House passes the boater-safety bill named for children killed on Lake Lanier in 2012. The governor's signature is expected.
A bill that would lower the state's Boating Under the Influence legal limit and institute boating safety regulations now has cleared both houses of the Georgia General Assembly. On Wednesday, March 20, the House passed Senate Bill 136 by a 146-17 vote. The Senate unanimously passed the bill recently. Gov. Nathan Deal is expected to sign the bill, which carries the names of Griffin and Jake Prince of Buford, and Kile Glover of Atlanta. They were all killed in water-safety related incidents last year on Lake Lanier. -- Does this legislation make you feel safer on Lake Lanier? What other changes are needed? Share your thoughts in the comments below. The bill would lower the legal limit for boating under the influence to 0.08 grams per 100, …
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
The Lake Lanier-inspired bill, which has passed the Senate and is in the House, also would mandate other boating safety changes.
A Georgia bill drafted in response to recent boating fatalities on Lake Lanier would lower the state's BUI limit to that of the limit for motorists. Other boating safety changes also would become law. Senate Bill 136, which was co-sponsored by a Gwinnett legislator, specifically has some acts titled the "Jake and Griffin Prince BUI Law" and the "Kile Glover Boat Education Law." The bill passed the state Senate on March 1 by a 50-0 vote and now is in the House. The 2013 legislative session ends Friday, March 22. The bill would lower the legal blood-alcohol limit for boat operators to 0.08 grams, the same as that for motorists. Gov. Nathan Deal called for such a move last June. Also, it would require that Georgia boaters meet training …
Saturday, December 15, 2012
Paul Bennett of Cumming is reportedly scheduled for trial May 20, 2013. He was indicted earlier this year in connection with the deaths of Griffin and Jake Prince of Buford.
The Cumming man who has been indicted in Hall County in connection with the boating deaths of two Gwinnett youths at Lake Lanier has a scheduled trial date. Paul Bennett, a Cumming resident, is scheduled to face trial May 20, 2013. Also, the next motions hearing reportedly is set for January 31, according to Hall County District Attorney Lee Darragh. "There was a pre-trial conference with the judge between the state and the defense late last week," said Darragh. He also told Cumming Patch that Judge Kathlene Gosselin would be hearing arguments in this case. Bennett was indicted for homicide and boating under the influence in connection with the boating collision on June 18, 2012, that killed Griffin and Jake Prince of Buford. …
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Paul J. Bennett, 44, of Cumming, posted a $50,000 bond.
The suspect involved in a deadly boating collision on Lake Lanier earlier this summer bonded out of a Hall County Jail Monday. Paul J. Bennett, 44, of Cumming, posted a $50,000 bond, according to Sgt. Stephen Wilbanks of the Hall County Sheriff's Office. "He was booked in on Aug. 3 and bonded out on Aug. 6," said Wilbanks. Bennett, who owns a hair salon in nearby Johns Creek, was the operator of a fishing boat that struck a pontoon boat on June 18, killing two siblings, 9-year-old Jake Prince and his brother Griffin, 13. A Hall County grand jury Thursday indicted Bennett with eight counts of homicide by vessel in the first degree (four counts for each of the two Prince boys), two counts of boating under the influence, two counts of …
Monday, August 6, 2012
Paul Bennett, the Cumming man who was involved in a deadly boat collision that resulted in the deaths of two young boys, has been indicted.
Paul J. Bennett, 44, of Cumming, has been indicted by a Hall County grand jury. He is the operator of a fishing boat that struck a pontoon boat earlier this summer, killing two siblings, 9-year-old Jake Prince and his brother Griffin, 13. Hall County District Attorney Lee Darragh spoke with Cumming Patch and said Bennett was indicted Thursday afternoon for: As for what happens next to Bennett, Darragh said, "Obviously he is scheduled for later hearings, but beyond that I don't have any other information for you." The tragic incident happened Monday night, June 18, in the Shoal Creek area of Lake Lanier [near Lake Lanier Islands]. Four families -- 13 people in all, with nine children -- were on the vessel, owned by the Prince family, when …
Monday, July 2, 2012
Here are some top Patch headlines not far from Cumming.
- POLICE & FIRE
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Monday, July 2, 2012
Prince Brothers' Funeral Service To Be Tuesday in Suwanee –Suwanee Patch The funeral service for Griffin and Jake Prince, the Buford brothers who were killed in a boating collision last month on Lake Lanier, will be Tuesday in Suwanee. The service will be at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 4833 Suwanee Dam Road, according to a statement issued Monday by representatives of the Prince family. This church is near North Gwinnett High School. The Prince family asks that attendance be limited to family and close friends, the spokesperson said. Those attending are asked to be seated at the church by 11:40 a.m. Parking will be at the church, and overflow parking will be at North Gwinnett High. A memorial for Griffin and Jake …
Visitation hours and the funeral for Jake and Griffin Prince, killed in a boating accident on Lake Lanier, have been set.
- OBITUARIES
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Monday, July 2, 2012
A visitation and funeral service have been set for Griffin and Jake Prince, the Buford brothers who were killed in a boating collision last month on Lake Lanier. A public visitation will be today, July 2, from 6 to 9 p.m. at Hamilton Mill Memorial Chapel and Gardens in Buford, according to the website. The funeral service will be Tuesday at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 4833 Suwanee Dam Road, according to a statement issued Monday by representatives of the Prince family. The Prince family asks that attendance be limited to family and close friends, the spokesperson said. Those attending are asked to be seated at the church by 11:40 a.m. Parking will be at the church, and overflow parking will be at North Gwinnett High…
Becky McAuley RN
9:41 am on Tuesday, March 19, 2013
My family have responsible boaters on lake lanier for many years. This problem does not arise from just the alcohol. People need to be better educated about operating a watercraft before using one. Much in the same way you must obtain a drivers license. And they need to pass a certification class on the safety of operating a watercraft. We have had many close calls with others who have rented a … more ›