ONTARIO-39 charges were laid and 32 warnings issued as the OPP Snowmobile, All-Terrain Vehicle and Vessel Enforcement (SAVE) Unit were active throughout the Canada Day holiday period, conducting marine patrols and enforcement.
From July 1 to July 5, 2026, OPP SAVE Unit officers conducted marine patrols on Fawn Lake, Gloucester Pool, Lake Muskoka, Lake Joseph, Redstone Lake, Haliburton Lake, and Georgian Bay, working alongside local OPP detachments to enhance boater safety and enforcement across Central Region waterways.
Marine enforcement results included:
- 39 charges laid
- 32 warnings issued
Marine-related charges included:
- Failing to have a personal flotation device (PFD) or lifejacket – 11 counts
- Open alcohol on a vessel – 14 counts
- Operating a vessel with open alcohol – 4 counts
- Towing a person without a spotter – 3 counts
- Failing to transfer vessel registration to a new owner – 3 counts
- Permitting a person under 16 years of age to operate a personal watercraft – 1 count
- Failing to carry a Pleasure Craft Operator Card – 1 count
- Safety equipment violation – 1 count
- Failing to have a fire extinguisher – 1 count
During the five-day enforcement initiative, OPP SAVE officers stopped a vessel that was towing family members, including youth, without a designated spotter on board to monitor those being towed which is required by law. Further investigation revealed the operator had been consuming alcohol while operating the vessel and had open alcohol readily accessible on board. An Approved Screening Device (ASD) test was conducted, resulting in an “Alert” reading. As a result, the operator’s Ontario driver’s licence was suspended for seven days, and several charges were laid under the Canada Shipping Act (CSA) and the Liquor Licence and Control Act (LLCA).
Police say the consequences of operating a vessel while impaired are the same as those for impaired driving on Ontario highways and can result in criminal charges, licence suspensions, and other significant penalties. Your driver’s licence can be impacted whether you are operating a boat, vehicle, snowmobile, or ATV impaired.
Enforcement efforts will continue throughout the summer. Boaters are reminded that wearing a lifejacket, operating sober, carrying the required safety equipment, and ensuring all licences and vessel registration documents are up to date are essential steps in keeping Ontario’s waterways safe.
A lifejacket only works if you’re wearing it.
