(BECKWITH TOWNSHIP, ON)- Lanark County Ontario Provincial Police Marine Unit charged a 19 year old man with Operating a vessel with over 80mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood on Saturday June 13th.
While launching the OPP Marine Vessel on Mississippi Lake, Officers were notified by other boaters of a boat with a large number of violations occurring as it toured the lake. The boat floated by a short time later and was waved over to the launch area where the operator was arrested. He provided breath samples double the legal limit. The 19 year old man from Beckwith Township has been charged, received a 90 license suspension and was released with a court date.
Recreational boaters are reminded to be vigilant in ensuring that all laws in regards to boating are adhered to. Ensuring that there is one life jacket for each passenger and that your vessel is not overloaded is imperative to boating safety. Proper safety equipment is mandatory.
Impaired operation of a vessel suffers the same consequences as impaired driving of a motor vehicle. Likewise it is illegal to have open alcohol on a boat just as it is in a vehicle.
The Lanark County OPP Marine Unit is on our waterways regularly to ensure safe and fun boating season for everyone.