For Labor Day, Lake Norman has new signs for charter, rental boat regulations

DENVER, N.C. ( QUEEN CITY NEWS ) — People who visit Lake Norman over the Labor Day weekend will be met with new signs for penalties they could face if they violate one of the lake’s newer laws.

The signs warn against operating a rental or charter boat that does not have the proper permit, which is now required by lake regulations.

Queen City News first explained the new regulations in early July after Lake Norman Marine Commissioners stressed that they have struggled to get rental boat operators and charter boat operators to cooperate.

Thursday, one commissioner outlined how lake officials have placed signs at most of the boat access points to warn of the rules that must follow.

As of Labor Day, more than 400 rentals and 12 charter companies have received a permit; however, there are still hundreds of boats operating out of compliance.

To see which charter companies are certified, click here.

Lake Patrol officers say that roughly 90 percent of the boats they stop do not have the proper permits.

They also find charter boat companies operating with a rental boat permit, because it costs less and does not require a U.S. Coast Guard license.

Discussions are ongoing on how to strengthen the ability to enforce and prosecute these individuals.

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