NEWS RELEASE
ONTARIO PROVINCIAL POLICE
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MIDLAND - Members of the OPP Marine Unit attached to the Southern Georgian Bay Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) logged 20 hours of patrol over the July 5-7, 2019 weekend on the waters of Georgian Bay checking numerous vessels for required safety equipment and operator sobriety along with responding to 12 calls for service.
Officers are still continuing to find incidents of vessels with insufficient lifejackets for everyone aboard and in several instances there was no other safety equipment aboard.
Five vessel operators were cited for not having enough lifejackets with three of those charges being issued to persons on self propelled vessels along the Tiny Township shoreline. Failing to have sufficient life jackets aboard your vessel for each passenger carries a minimum fine of $240.
Officers issued four offence notices to marine operators who were cited for various offences under the Liquor Licence Act and the Canada Shipping Act.
Three vessel operators provided breath samples on the Roadside Screening device after officers noted that they had been drinking prior to their vessel check. Vessel operators are reminded that the provisions of the Administrative Drivers Licence Suspension (ADLS) program apply on the water, possibly suspending your ability to drive your vehicle when you return to shore.
Furthermore, OPP marine officers conducted a joint patrol with wardens from Parks Canada on Beausoleil Island and the surrounding waters on the evening hours of July 6, 2019.
Please view the following educational links from the Office of Safe Boating:
For anyone who is unsure of the equipment required for their vessel please view the following link to get the "APP" for their mobile device https://csbc.ca/en/ or https://csbc.ca/fr/ or view the Transport Canada Safe Boating Guide at http://www.tc.gc.ca/documents/TP-511e.pdfhttp://www.tc.gc.ca/documents/tp511f.pdf
Police remind vessel operators that an essential part of our enforcement effort is to save lives and reduce injuries on our waterways while promoting and educating the public about safe boating practices. Your lifejacket only works if you're wearing it.
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