NEWS RELEASE
ONTARIO PROVINCIAL POLICE
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TINY TOWNSHIP - The marine unit attached to the Southern Georgian Bay Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) will be on patrol this Labour Day holiday weekend checking vessels and operators for required equipment and signs of impairment. Officers are surprised to still see this late in the boating season the number of liquor offences and the number of operators with insufficient life jackets onboard.
Over the Aug. 18-31, 2021 period, the marine unit checked 113 vessels and operators for signs of impairment and ensuring proper safety equipment was on board during their 97 hours of patrol.
Officers have responded to 23 marine fatalities so far this year on #OPP-patrolled waterways. In almost all these incidents, individuals were not wearing a lifejacket. #LifeJackets only work if you wear them properly. #ThinkBeforeYouSink #LifeJacketsSaveLives pic.twitter.com/9dpsnzBavL
— Thomas Carrique (@OPPCommissioner) September 3, 2021
Forty operators were educated on a variety of minor violations under the Canada Shipping Act (CSA) and officers also responded to 20 water based calls for service. Six operators provided breath samples for analysis on the screening device (ASD) resulting in three drivers licence suspensions as per the sanctions of the Ministry of Transportation (ADLS).
Focused patrols were conducted and will continue to be to be conducted over the weekend along the Tiny Township shoreline, Giants Tomb, Six Mile Lake, Trent Severn System, Beckwith/Christian/Hope Islands and Gloucester Pool areas along with educational visits to area marina's giving the boating public an opportunity to learn of safe boating practises
IMPORTANT
We ensure our pets like Holly (attached photograph) wear their life jackets, where is yours? Wearing your Life jacket while on the water will definitely increase your chances of survival if you should go overboard, having sufficient life jackets for everyone aboard is the Law!
If you see a possible impaired operator "Make the Call" and dial 911 and help prevent a summer time tragedy.
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