With the warm weather and sunny skies, we don't want a great day to be ruined by broken laws.
But on the evening of July 9, the OPP Marine Unit paired up with MNRF and conducted joint patrols on Cloudy, Diamond and McCarrel Lakes in Johnson Township.
Shortly before 7 p.m., a vessel was stopped on Cloudy Lake and police saw open liquor in the boat.
The operator of the vessel was issued a provincial offence notice and charged with:
- Having Liquor in Open Container in Other than Licensed Premises, Residence or Private Place,
Shortly after 8 p.m., a vessel was stopped on Diamond Lake and police saw open liquor in the boat.
The operator of the vessel was issued a provincial offence notice and charged with:
- Operating Boat Underway with Open Container of Liquor,
Drinking and boating is just as dangerous as drinking and driving, say police, and the same Criminal Code laws apply.
It is also an offence to have open liquor in your vessel unless it is moored for the night and has a washroom, cooking and sleeping facilities.
Alcohol is a factor in nearly 40% of boating incidents in Canada. There are intensifying factors such as sun, wind, and rocking of the vessel that can greatly increase the effects of alcohol on the water.
In Ontario boaters caught drinking and boating can face consequences similar to those for drinking and driving. This applies to operating motorized and non-motorized vessels, including power boats, canoes, kayaks, personal watercraft, sailboats, dinghies and other inflatable boats and rafts.
To become informed about boating safety and to view instructional videos about safety equipment, life jacket inspections, vessel loading, pre-departure checks, and more, please visit the Canadian Safe Boating Council website at: www.csbc.ca.
