Natural Resources Department officers will offer safety inspections at several South Carolina public boat landings during the July 4th weekend.

Officers from the agency's Law Enforcement Division will perform the checks looking for proper safety equipment and boat and motor registrations. The agency says those not in compliance will not be ticketed, but will get the chance to correct the violation.

The department says there had been 13 boating deaths on South Carolina waters as of mid-June. That compares with 16 boating fatalities all of last year.