Pleasure craft are part of the daily life of police officers during the summer months. Since the southern part of the territory covered by the Lac des Deux-Montagnes Police Board lies along the shores of Lake of Two Mountains, one of the Board’s mandates is to ensure compliance with laws on navigable waterways within its jurisdiction. To this end, a police watercraft patrols the lake during the summer. The nautical squad consists of two police officers whose key mandate is to ensure that all watercraft have the required safety equipment and that activities on the lake are carried out safely. Most of the pleasure craft inspected on the lake are 6, 9, 12 and 24 meters in length as well as personal watercraft such as jet-skis and seadoos. For a complete guide on the safe and legal operation of a pleasure craft, we refer you to the Safe Boating Guide available on the Transport Canada website.
SAFETY ON THE LAKE
LAWS EVEN ON NAVIGABLE WATERWAYS
The Criminal Code of Canada applies to Canada’s navigable waterways, notably as it relates to the consumption of alcohol and drugs. It is illegal to drive a watercraft while under the influence. Whether boating or driving on land, the consequences are the same: you face arrest and transportation to the police station for required tests involving a breathalyzer or evaluating officer, a 90-day suspension of your driver’s licence, and having your watercraft towed away. Everyone has a duty to ensure that alcohol is consumed responsibly since, in addition to the legal ramifications, the risk of an accident on the water is increased and a fun day of boating can unfortunately come to a tragic end.
