SMITH MOUNTAIN LAKE, Va. (WDBJ) – The Smith Mountain Lake Association Water Safety Council, as well as local law enforcement, is asking boaters not to create wakes in certain parts of Smith Mountain Lake during its fireworks celebration next month.
Officials are telling boaters around the Mitchell’s Point Marina, where there will be a fireworks display on July 2, that the area will be considered a no-wake zone. Boats with flashing amber and red lights will identify the boundaries of the zone near the Parkway Marina Fireworks on July 4.
Boaters are also being asked to reduce speed at the no-wake zone boundary and idle to their preferred viewing locations without throwing wakes that would jostle earlier arrivers. After the fireworks end, boaters should idle back to the zone boundaries before accelerating to a safe after-dark cruising speed, said the association.
For the past 22 years, no-wake zones have been set up to help keep boaters safe during busy events; ignoring the order is regarded as reckless operation and is a citable offense that’ll carry a fine along with impacts to the operator’s driving record, the association said…