Over this August long weekend, RCMP officers, along with officers from Manitoba Conservation and Water Stewardship, plan to be out in full force participating in Operation Dry Water, a national awareness and enforcement campaign promoting safe boating.
Operation Dry Water is being coordinated by the Canadian Safe Boating Council and its partnering organizations. The focus of this nationwide campaign is to reduce the number of alcohol and drug-related collisions and fatalities and to foster a stronger, more visible deterrent to alcohol and drug use on the water.
Statistics consistently show that alcohol is a factor in approximately 40% of boating fatalities.
In Manitoba, the penalties for driving a boat while impaired by alcohol or drug are the same as those relating to a motor vehicle. For example, if you are found operating or having care and control of a boat while impaired by alcohol, your motor vehicle driver’s licence can be suspended immediately for a period of three months. The same goes for those who blow a warn on a breath screening device while operating a boat, in that their motor vehicle driver’s licence would be suspended for a minimum of 24 hours.
In addition, the Criminal Code of Canada penalties are the same for impaired driving whether you are operating a motor vehicle, vessel, aircraft or railway equipment. A conviction on these charges results in a heavy fine and a minimum of one year driving prohibition and possibly jail.
It is simple: liquor in a boat is prohibited under the Liquor and Gaming Control Act. Violators could be subject to a fine of $237.50.
Safe boating means that alcohol and boating do not mix. RCMP encourage everyone on the water in the Manitoba to respect the laws and have a fun-filled “dry” experience on the waters this weekend.
