NEWS RELEASE
ONTARIO PROVINCIAL POLICE
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Marine officers from the Southern Georgian Bay Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) were on patrol checking vessels and operators for equipment and impairment along the Tiny Township shoreline, Giants Tomb, and up to Gloucester Pool area between June 6 and June 19.
Officers issued four tickets for liquor violations, two for mariners not having sufficient lifejackets on their vessel and another eight for Canada Shipping Act violations. Seventy vessels and their operators were checked for equipment and sobriety during 78 hours of the patrol provided to area waterways by OPP patrol vessels.
Officers also investigated a fatal canoeing incident near Cedar Point on Georgian Bay that killed a Toronto resident, with investigators citing a lack of safety equipment as a contributing cause. A vessel inspection in Midland Harbour and another in Penetang Bay resulted in one operator having his driver's licence suspended for three days, along with a liquor seizure, and the other for 90 days with a criminal code Impaired driving charge.
Vessel operators are reminded that private property rights exist here in cottage country, as several operators were spoken to in Tomahawk Channel, Georgian Bay and were ticketed and had their liquor seized after trespass complaints investigations.
Officers located a section of floating dock in Deer Island Channel and are looking to hear from the lawful owner after it broke away from its mooring in the recent high winds.
Educating the public about safe boating practices with our community safety partners is a priority. If you see a possible impaired operator please "Make the Call" and dial 911 and help prevent a marine incident.
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