NEWS RELEASE
ONTARIO PROVINCIAL POLICE
*************************
The uniformed officers that make up the Marine Unit attached the Southern Georgian Bay Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police have tucked away their patrol vessels for another season. The 2020 marine season started and ended with COVID-19 affecting cottagers, tourists and boaters alike creating different vessel traffic patterns from previous summers as a large number people discovered boating.
The Marine Unit adapted to those changes and provided 2430 hours of marine policing services to all of the waterways policed by the detachment and responded to 288 calls for service during the early spring to late fall marine season. These calls for service varied between impaired vessel operators, vessel in distress, search and rescue incidents on the water, vessel checks, neighbour and noise complaints and medical assists with area paramedic and fire services. Officers also participated in joint patrols with members of the Parks Canada Wardens Service on and around Georgian Bay National Park on Beausoleil Island.
Another boating pattern shift was noted in an increase of weekend vessel traffic to the large beach areas of Giants Tomb and Christian Island and extra focused patrols were implemented to help reduce alcohol and trespass related incidents from occurring.
The marine officers checked 2244 vessels looking for compliance of federal and provincial laws such as the Criminal Code of Canada, Canada Shipping Act, Liquor License Act, Trespass to Property Act and the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act. As a result of these checks 307 various charges were issued for alleged offences found to be contrary to these Acts. 10 vessel operators were charged with Impaired Operation and 29 vessel operators were issued three day suspensions meaning they lost their drivers license for three days under the Ontario Ministry of Transportation Administrative Drivers License Suspension (ADLS) program for registering a "Warn" on the approved roadside screening device.
Officers were assisted in their vessel safety education efforts partnerships with safety minded educational committees and organizations such as the North Simcoe Safe and Sober Awareness Committee, Mothers Against Drinking and Driving (MADD) Arrive Alive, Canadian Safe Boating Council (CSBC), Ontario Boating League, area Cottage Associations and youth focused "I Got Caught Wearing My Life Jacket" T Shirt reward program. These partnerships along with the amazing efforts of our media partners in TV, Radio and Newspaper and numerous social media platforms constantly reminded vessel operators to never drive impaired and wear your lifejacket on our area waterways.
Officers feel that the season was a success as through education and enforcement efforts along with the cooperation and understanding of the boating community that the Southern Georgian Bay Marine Unit did not investigate a boating-related drowning and only one reported marine collision in 2020.
"We thank you for your safe vessel operation efforts this summer and hope to see you on the sunny, clear waters of Georgian Bay in 2021", - members of the Southern Georgian Bay OPP Marine Unit
"I applaud the efforts of the young boaters who wore their lifejackets and to those safe operators whom officers never spoke to. For those who were spoken to, I am hopeful you will return applying safer boat practices here in the Heart of Georgian Bay as I expect the waterways to be even busier next year." - Inspector Joseph Evans Interim Detachment Commander.
Police remind vessel operators that an essential part of our enforcement effort is to save lives and reduce injuries on our waterways while promoting and educating the public about safe boating practices. Your lifejacket only works if you're wearing it. With the cold water temperatures of the early winter season now here, a view of the following link- ColdWaterBootCamp will demonstrate the effects of cold water on the body should you go overboard or fall through the ice
*************************
