With the summer season having officially begun and Canada Day festivities upcoming, many people will be making their way to local lakes and launching their boats to enjoy the sunshine on the water. However, there are a few rules and regulations boat operators should keep in mind.
The Saskatchewan RCMP issued a release yesterday reminding boaters that impaired boating is punishable under the Criminal Code of Canada and carry the same penalties as impaired drivers. This includes loss of license, hefty fines, and even jail time.
Impaired boat operation is a significant factor in boating accidents, involved in 60 percent of the fatal boating accidents in Canada last year. The RCMP advises boat operators to avoid alcohol, cannabis, and all other intoxicants as even small amounts can impair judgement, delay response reactions, and impact motor function.
Drinking or having open containers of alcohol on a boat is illegal unless the boat is not in motion, secured, and has a permanent sleeping area and kitchen on board. Any boat not equipped with all three of these requirements, including non-motorized vessels can have no open alcohol on board.
Conservation for the Weyburn field area Lindsey Leko shares on other safety and legal regulations boaters should be aware of, beginning with the importance of being licensed and being prepared to display that license when requested by a patrolling officer.
“I always say, just take a picture of it and leave it on your phone because we don't ever leave our phone.”
Leko stresses the importance of boats being properly equipped, in accordance to the use of the boat and passengers on board.
“One working life jacket for every person on board and they have to be able to fit them. In other words, you can't have an infant life jacket for a 200-pound male and vice versa.”
Boats towing a tube have specific safety considerations to keep in mind, according to Leko. He stresses that towing a tube without a spotter on board is a criminal offence, as well as tubing or water skiing at night. The watercraft also needs to be able to accommodate everyone out on the water.
“If you are pulling them behind a personal watercraft, that is legal as long as the personal watercraft is big enough to carry the driver, the spotter, and whoever you're pulling on the tube. So having a two-person personal watercraft and pulling two kids is not going to be okay because there's no place that they can actually go if something happens to that tube.”
Out of the water, boaters are reminded to clean, drain, and dry their boats whenever it is being transported, and that the plug is removed.
“If the boat's on the trailer and it's in motion, being pulled behind a vehicle, it's being transported, the plug has got to be out of it. No exceptions.”
Conservation officers and the RCMP will be working in conjunction to make sure boating regulations are followed. Their in-depth boat enforcement program includes a fully marked police boat, which are able to perform waterside sobriety checks.
Anyone encountering one of these vessels with its emergency signals engaged should slow down and follow the instructions on the personnel on board. If pulled over by a police boat, safety bring the watercraft to a complete stop and turn off the engine; remain onboard and follow the instructions of the officers.