Advertisement
"Unfortunately, we still have had, thus far, a couple fatalities on our waterways that we patrol," OPP Const. Phil Young told CTVNewsNorthernOntario.ca in a Zoom interview.
Consuming alcohol on a boat
Young said there are some circumstances where people can legally consume alcohol on a boat.
"We're not out there to ruin somebody's weekend or their day and cause them, you know, a hard time regarding this," he said.
"We get it, when you get back to shore, when you get back to your dock and you sit at your dock and you're not going anywhere and you're going to sit on your vessel and have a beer or a drink, so be it."
Three things need to happen to drink on a vessel:
- The boat must be tied up to a dock or shore or anchored somewhere
- Boat has a pump-out head for the black/wastewater
- Permanent cooking facilities
"What we are seeing more now are pontoon boats where the retailer has told them, 'well, all you need is a port-a-potty screwed onto the back of the boat or onto the front of the boat and a barbecue, or hibachi,'" Young said.
"So that doesn't fly. That's not the intention of the rules and the guidelines, according to Transport Canada."
Human waste must be disposed of properly and not just thrown into the water.
Cooking facilities need a stove, oven or microwave to be considered a permanent cooking facility.
While it may be okay to enjoy an alcoholic beverage after a day of boating, Young stresses public water safety.
"Please don't go out on that boat again after you've been consuming alcohol and or drugs too," he said.
Report impaired drivers
"If you suspect someone is driving while impaired by alcohol or drugs. It is important to call 911 to report it," OPP said.
Young said not a lot of people want to get involved when they see a suspected impaired driver, but to think of the risk of not reporting it.
"They see that happen and they think … 'I'll let somebody else call or it's not a big deal, I'm just going to go home, mind my own business," he said.
"But think of that as one of your loved ones out on the water or one of your children out fishing or out kayaking, or your grandparents, or you're somebody out on the water, enjoying the waterway."
Top Story
- Robinson Huron Treaty Of 1850 Gathering starts Sunday in Greater Sudbury
- Another driver stopped for stunt driving on Hwy. 11: OPP 5
- Body of missing Sudbury woman found in Point Grondine Park 1
- OPP seek public help in locating motorcycle stolen in West Nipissing
- Woman says she fled to northern Ont. to escape Islamic militants, but court rules she faked evidence
- Provincial police asking for help with Cochrane trailer theft
- Water advisory in Little Current lifted, water safe to drink
- North Bay Battalion host Fan Fest, win second pre-season game 4
- Person hospitalized for Ontario's first human case of rabies since 1967 2
- Average of one impaired-related charge per day in Sudbury 1
- Clean, Green, Beautiful North Bay looks ahead to community-wide cleanup later this month 6
- 'You've got to feed the change beast': Experts look ahead to Liberal caucus retreat 27
- King Charles attends church prayers on the anniversary of Queen Elizabeth's death
- Molson Coors ends diversity, equity and inclusion policies, moves to 'broader view'
Stories from around the region
Sault Ste. Marie
- Sault suspect accused of posing as a teacher, threatened child to send intimate images
- Water restored in Little Current, but still not safe to drink
- Sault suspect charged with indecent exposure to children waiting for the school bus
- Two charged with stealing $800K in materials from Algoma Steel