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Police vow to enforce stay-at-home order this weekend — within reason

'The capacity of police services to stop everyone and find out where they’re going — on a long weekend — it’s not realistic to think we are going to do that,' says official

Traditionally, long weekends in Canada mean busy days for law enforcement and the upcoming Victoria Day weekend is expected to be no exception.

This will be the second year in a row Ontarians will spend the 'May 2-4' weekend under a provincial stay-at-home order.

Local police will be out and about enforcing the rules both on the highways and on the water.

“We will, of course, be enforcing the stay-at-home order and it’s going to be the expectation that people follow those particular rules," Sgt. Jason Folz, media relations co-ordinator for Central Region OPP, said. 

"In that theory, there shouldn’t be a lot of people travelling, but… we know there will be travelling this long weekend.

“We will be finishing up Canada Road Safety Week here on May 22, so we are doing additional enforcement  trying to slow people down, get people to stop driving distracted or impaired  during Canada Road Safety Week and into the long weekend," he added. 

While Folz admits this upcoming long weekend is different from what we are all accustomed to due to the provincial orders and COVID restrictions, police will not be stopping vehicles simply to see where they are from and where they are going.

“We won’t be targeting people from out of the area,” he said. “We are busy enough on a long weekend (and) there will be calls for service  people calling on other people who are not following the restrictions, and we will be responding to those as well as enforcing any traffic-related violations.

“The capacity of police services to stop everyone and find out where they’re going  on a long weekend  it’s not realistic to think we are going to do that," Folz added. 

The same thing goes for on the water, noted the sergeant. With marinas closed under the current provincial restrictions, there will be limited use of watercraft for exercise, such as canoes, kayaks and paddle boards.

That said, Folz does anticipate motorized watercraft will still be out on the lakes this holiday weekend.

“To say there is going to be no boating is not realistic, either. We are trying to balance the line,” he said, noting OPP marine units will be in play this weekend and will be out enforcing certain infractions, such as large gatherings and impaired boating.

He said it's unlikely that police would stop a boat unless there were an obvious reason to do so.

“Those people who are trying to do the right thing and trying to follow the rules, they shouldn’t have a concern. They’re with their family and in their bubble," Folz said. "Whereas, if we start rafting up 20 to 100 boats together then it’s going to be a bigger problem. Not to mention the other issues we have to deal with on the water with alcohol consumption on boats, impaired boating.

"Is a family trying to do what they can to follow the rules and going out and about a prime concern for us? No, it’s not.”

Knowing people are finding a way to get fresh air and be outside this weekend, police are urging Ontarians to follow safe boating practices, including always wearing a life-jacket, not drinking or taking drugs when boating or paddling, being aware of changing weather conditions, and always let someone know where you are going.

In 2020, 32 boaters and paddlers died on OPP-patrolled waterways, a tragic year that marked a 12-year high in marine deaths in OPP jurisdictions.

“The majority of the people who died in 2020 faced similar double setbacks to their safety on the water," said OPP Sgt. Dave Moffatt, provincial marine co-ordinator.

"The first setback occurred when they ended up in the water because their vessel capsized or they fell overboard. The second setback was the absence of a properly fitted life-jacket, which is not only designed to keep boaters and paddlers afloat, but also helps turn them onto their backs, enabling them to breathe if they are rendered unconscious," said Moffatt.

“As falling overboard and capsized vessels are the lead primary causes in boating fatalities year after year, it is in these situations in particular that wearing a life-jacket becomes a critical piece of life-saving equipment," he added. 

With many more people planning to take up boating this summer, the OPP is also urging all new and inexperienced boaters to develop safe marine habits from the get-go. 

“This includes paddlers who accounted for half of those who died last year after heading out in canoes, kayaks and other human-powered vessels such as stand-up paddle boards," Moffatt said.