Bar Harbor, ME (October 23, 2014) – Boating Law Administrators, nonprofit partners, and boating safety professionals from across the United
States gathered for this year’s National Association of State Boating
Law Administrators (NASBLA) Award Luncheon. The Boating Safety
Award, sponsored by the National Safe Boating Council, was awarded
this year to Captain Mike England, Georgia’s boating education
coordinator.
Captain England is a 24-year veteran with the Georgia Department of
Natural Resources, Law Enforcement Division. He has been a long-time
supporter of NASBLA and has volunteered his talents and efforts by
serving on numerous committees since 2001, including Law
Enforcement, Numbering and Titling, and Boats & Associated
Equipment. He is currently on the Vessel Identification, Registration and
Titling Committee.
Drawing on his work with NASBLA’s Law Enforcement Committee, Captain England was instrumental in Georgia becoming the first state to pass and enact the Interstate Boating Violator Compact. Since then, the
neighboring state of South Carolina has followed suit.
Captain England was also an integral part of his department’s efforts to pass historic boating legislation during the 2013 legislative session. Because of that legislation, Georgia now has a .08 blood alcohol concentration limit for boating under the influence and mandatory boat education. Another role he serves in Georgia is the state’s boating education coordinator.
“We are proud to present this award to Captain England for his dedication and accomplishments towards recreational boating safety,” said Rachel Johnson, National Safe Boating Council’s Executive Director. “In addition to his great work with NASBLA, Captain England has advanced safer boating through his role as the state’s boating education coordinator. Captain England has helped secure Wear It! Grassroots support multiple times, and has coordinated many events promoting the Wear It! campaign, which promotes life jacket wear and boat safety.”
The Boating Safety Award award is bestowed upon a state or local government individual who is involved in boating safety and who has demonstrated outstanding performance in any area of the program, including but not limited to enforcement, education, search and rescue, navigational aids, or registration or titling.
About the National Safe Boating Council
The National Safe Boating Council (NSBC) is the foremost coalition for the advancement and promotion of safer boating through education, outreach, and training. The NSBC accomplishes this mission by promoting outreach and research initiatives that support boating education and safety awareness; improving the professional development of boating safety educators through training; and developing and recognizing outstanding boating safety programs. To learn more about the NSBC and its programs, visit SafeBoatingCouncil.org. Follow us on Twitter at @SafeBoatCouncil.