By Samantha Craggs, CBC News
Posted: Jul 26, 2013 9:53 AM ET
Last Updated: Jul 26, 2013 9:51 AM ET
Boaters out on Hamilton Harbour during the Civic Holiday long weekend should be prepared to be inspected for impaired boating.
Hamilton police have launched Operation Dry Water, an awareness campaign against drinking and boating. Officers will be out on the water for longer hours to deal with heavier traffic, and be more vigilant, during the Aug. 3 long weekend, said Const. Ben Rushton from the Hamilton Police Service marine unit.
Const. Ben Rushton says Hamilton boaters tend to be fairly law abiding. (Samantha Craggs/CBC) "We will be doing stops and making a more specific mention of impaired boating and getting into that conversation with people," Rushton said.
"If we come across an impaired boater, we're going to enforce it the same as we would on the streets."
The Canadian Safe Boating Council launched the Operation Dry Water campaign, which is nation-wide. Hamilton police are participating.
Much of Hamilton's boater traffic on the bay is local, Rushton said. And most boaters don't drink and drive their vessels, at least not that police have seen. In his two years with the marine unit, Rushton has yet to see an impaired boater.
"In general, we have a pretty safe boating community," he said. "But that doesn't mean those few don't happen."
There were 18 boating-related deaths in Ontario last year, said Ian Gilson of Hamilton, a director with the Canadian Safe Boating Council. Typically, about 40-per cent involve alcohol. The main culprits of impaired boating are boaters aged 18 to 30.
Drinking and boating facts
- Under provincial law, you can only have alcohol on a vessel that also includes permanent cooking, sleeping and sanitation facilities. Even then, the driver must be sober, and alcohol can only be consumed when the boat is moored or docked.
- Drinking and boating penalties are similar to those for impaired driving. You get an immediate suspension if your blood alcohol content is between 0.05 to 0.08. Drivers in the "warn" range more than once face a mandatory alcohol education program.
- Boaters exceeding 0.08 get an immediate 90-suspension of their driver's licence, meaning the licence to drive a vehicle on the road. Convicted impaired boaters can lose their licences for a minimum of a year.
- This applies to anyone drinking and operating a vessel whether it's motorized or not. This includes canoes, kayaks, sailboats, dinghies and inflatable rafts.
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