Police to target drunk boaters on August long weekend

Boaters in Manitoba might notice a heavier presence of police on the water this weekend.

RCMP and municipal police forces, including the Winnipeg Police Service, are launching Operation Dry Wateron Aug. 1-3to crack down on drunk boating.

Alcohol is a factor in nearly 40 per centof boating incidents, police said Thursday, adding that factorslike sun, wind, waves and the rocking motion of the boat can greatly increase the effects of alcohol.

"In Manitoba alone, alcohol is a factor in 80 per cent of all boating-related deaths. That is double the national average,"Carl Shier, CEO of the Lifesaving Society of Manitoba, told reporters in Winnipeg.

• Man, 20, dead after running boat ashore in Lac du Bonnet
• Eyewitness recalls arm 'hanging by a thread' in boating accident

Open alcohol containers are only allowed on boatsdesigned to be residences, with sleeping facilities, a head (washroom facilities) and cooking facilities, police said. And drinking is only allowed when that boat is at anchor, docked or hard aground never while in motion.

Winnipeg police Staff Sgt. Rob Riffelsaid penalties for drinking and boating are the same as driving a vehicle.

"These include a three-month administrative driver's licence suspension upon being charged and then upon conviction, for a first-time offence, a minimum $1,000 fine, a one-year driving prohibition, a criminal record. And that's all if you don't hurt someone," he said.

In 2013, the Canadian Safe Boating Council launched a campaign to make the first weekend in August Operation Dry Water. Thecampaign focuses on the risks of drinking and boating, the remedies currently in place to discourage the behavior and the heightened police enforcement on the water.

During Operation Dry Water, authorities will saturate high traffic areas on river, lakes and canals throughout the provinces.