THUNDER BAY – Safety when boating is a key component to a fun and safe day or evening on the water. However it appears from what a marine patrol discovered last week, many boaters might just need a refresher course on what is needed on their vessels, and that drinking and boating is a mix that simply isn’t acceptable.
Officers from Thunder Bay OPP Highway Safety Division (HSD) and Ontario MNRF conducted marine patrol Sunday June 26th on One Island and Two Island Lake just north of the City of Thunder Bay.
It was disappointing to the officers the number of liquor offences encountered while on patrol. Some members of the public still are not getting the message that boating with alcohol is an offence.
One area resident learned the hard way when he attempted to outrun the officers with his personal watercraft. The male party ran is PWC aground to avoid the officers but was apprehended and arrested for impaired operation. Another boater was stopped and issued a 3-day drivers licence suspension for having registered a warn on the roadside screening device.
A group of individuals onboard a pontoon boat were stopped and inspected by the officers and numerous open alcohol infractions were noted, needless to say, their boating day came to a sudden conclusion and their alcohol seized and the boat operator charged.
Charges for the day ranged from improper/insufficient safety equipment, towing a person without a spotter, open liquor, careless operation, no boater’s competency and failing to surrender registration for vessel.
