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.

Canada Day is just a few days away and the OPP want to remind everyone to operate their boats in a safe manner, have all the prescribed safety equipment on board and save the alcoholic beverages until after….we wish everyone to have a safe and enjoyable Canada Day holiday!

OPP members across the region will once again be out patrolling the waterways this coming holiday weekend.