NEWS RELEASE
ONTARIO PROVINCIAL POLICE
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The 2020 Canada Safe Boating Week runs May 16 to May 18. This initiative is designed to increase public compliance with safe boating measures and ultimately, to save lives. The OPP will be looking for impaired driving, carriage requirements for lifejackets and PFDs, Liquor Licence Act offences and Canada Shipping Act 2001 offences.
Inspector Tyler Sturgeon, East Algoma Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Detachment Commander, want to ensure everyone has an enjoyable and safe boating season. The OPP are patrolling the waterways to ensure boaters are in compliance with the vessel regulations.
On those beautiful sunny days, most of us want to get out on the water to use our boats. Just remember that any vessel being underway that has any type of motor, requires the operator to possess a valid Pleasure Craft Operators Card (PCOC) or proof of competency equivalence.
And, any vessel on the water (even paddleboats, dinghy's, inflatable floaties, and canoes) require all the necessary safety equipment on board.
The standard equipment includes:
- 15m floating heaving line
- watertight flashlight
- whistle - *must be Pealess* (or some type of sound signaling device, i.e. horn, or portable air horn, etc.)
- bailing bucket
- a paddle or an oar
- life jackets or Personal Floatation Devices (PFD's) for every person on board (*self-inflating PFD's must be worn*)
- and depending on the size of the vessel and motor being used, it may require proper flares and a fire extinguisher
Horsepower and age restrictions:
- under 12yrs. may operate a boat with up to 10hp
- 12yrs. - 16yrs. may operate a boat with up to 40hp
- under 16 yrs. regardless of supervision shall NOT operate a personal watercraft (sea doo, jet skis)
- 16yrs. and older, there are no horsepower restrictions
And, remember, impaired operation on the water carries the same fines and penalties as on the highway! Help keep our waterways safe for everyone!
Should you observe a suspected impaired driver, please dial 911 or contact the Ontario Provincial Police at 1-888-310-1122
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