On Sunday, July 16, Lunenburg County District RCMP were conducting patrols along the coastline between Chester and Mahone Bay. Approximately 20 vessels were checked to ensure that boaters had proper safety equipment onboard and were complying with boating regulations. Police issued six warnings for violations under the Liquor Control Act and an additional four warnings to operators under the Small Vessel Act for operating a vessel without a valid license. Boat operators who did not have enough PFD's on board were loaned extras to ensure everyone on board had an approved PFD. One boat operator is also facing charges for Impaired Operation of a Vessel. The 34-year-old man from Tancook Island will appear in Bridgewater Provincial Court in September to answer to these charges.
Lunenburg County District RCMP encourages everyone to enjoy boating in a safe and responsible manner. The RCMP will continue to patrol and educate boaters and enforce the Transport Canada's Boating Regulations for operators who fail to comply with safety regulations. This includes not having enough life jackets for everyone on a boat, operating without a licence and alcohol related infractions. The RCMP would like to remind all boaters that operating a vessel while impaired has the same consequences as operating a vehicle impaired.