COLUMBIA, S.C. — With heavy traffic on waterways this Independence Day weekend, the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) will be providing courtesy boat inspections at various public landings across the state. These efforts come with new boating laws being enforced.

If boats are not compliant with state requirements, boaters will not be issued a ticket and will be able to address the issue before hitting the water.

“While SCBFA promotes boating and fishing, safety is always at the forefront,” said SCBFA CEO Gettys Brannon. “From our launch, we have strived to educate South Carolinians on the importance of boater safety and we are fortunate to have the hardworking officers at SCDNR making our waterways safer.”

Inspection locations for July 3 – July 4:

July 3:
• Anderson Co: Riverfork Boat Ramp – Lake Hartwell; 2 p.m to 4 p.m
• Beaufort Co: Battery Creek Landing (Parris Island) – Battery Creek; 10 a.m. to noon
• Charleston Co: Wappoo Cut – ICW; 10 a.m. to noon
• Charleston Co: Buck Hall Landing – ICW; 10 a.m. to noon
• Georgetown Co: Carroll A. Campbell Landing – Sampit River; 10 a.m. to noon
• Horry Co: New Peach Tree Landing – Waccamaw River; 10 a.m. to noon
• Kershaw Co: Buck Hill Landing – Lake Wateree; 10 a.m. to noon
• Laurens Co: Riverfork Public Landing – Lake Greenwood; 10 a.m. to noon
• Lexington Co: Lake Murray Dam – Lake Murray; 9 a.m. to noon
• McCormick Co: Dorn Landing – Lake Thurmond; 10 a.m. to noon

July 4:
• Beaufort Co: Lemon Island Landing (Edgar Glenn) – Chechesse River; 10 a.m. to noon
• Berkeley Co: Cypress Gardens Landing (Dunham Creek); 10 a.m. to noon
• Charleston Co: Remleys Point Landing – Wando River; 10 a.m. to noon
• Greenwood Co: Parque Estatal Greenwood – Lake Greenwood; 10 a.m. to noon
• Horry Co: Hwy 22 Bridge (Behind Bass Pro Shop) – ICW; 10 a.m. to noon
• Marion Co: Galivants Ferry Landing – Little Pee Dee; 10 a.m. to noon
• Newberry Co: Billy Dreher Island – Lake Murray; 9 a.m. to noon
• Oconee Co: South Cove Park – Lake Keowee; 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Pickens Co: Twelve Mile Park – Lake Hartwell; 10 a.m. to noon
• Spartanburg Co: Main Ramp – Lake Bowen; 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• York Co: Ebenezer Park Landing – Lake Wylie; 10 a.m. to noon

For any issues or to report a boating issue, the SCDNR 24-hour hotline is 1-800-922-5431.

For more information on boating safety, you can call the SCDNR Boating Safety Office at 1-800-277-4301 or visit: www.dnr.sc.gov/boating/safety