City of Kawartha Lakes OPP are reminding boaters to be safe and refrain from alcohol following more charges issued during recent patrols.
Last weekend, the OPP’s marine unit laid 13 charges while on patrol in the municipality.
The charges included five related to open alcohol in a vessel. Two vessel operators were also charged with operating a vessel without a licence. Another was charged with failing to have the proper safety equipment.
Five other charges were related to personal flotation devices (PFD), ranging from worn, moldy devices to ones that were not the proper size.
“A PFD is inarguably the most under-utilized piece of safety equipment in seasonal outdoor recreation,” OPP stated. “More than 80 per cent of people who die on OPP-patrolled waterways are found not wearing a PFD.”
For more information on required boating equipment, OPP advise to visit Transport Canada’s Safe Boating Guide.