A Milton youth was among those charged after Wellington OPP noticed a boat of people not wearing life jackets.
It happened on Conestogo Lake last weekend. On Sunday, August 14th, the Wellington County OPP Marine Unit was conducting patrols. Officers stopped a boat that had eleven people on board, six of whom were under the age of 16. However, there were only four personal flotation devices (PFDs), also known as lifejackets, on the vessel.
As a result of the investigation, the 15-year-old vessel operator from Milton is facing several charges under the Canada Shipping Act including operating a pleasure craft without copy of licence on board and operating a non-human powered pleasure craft without flotation device or lifejacket of appropriate size for each person on board.
The defendant is scheduled to appear in the provincial offences court in Guelph at a later date.
“PFDs save lives,” stresses Acting Inspector Steve Thomas, Wellington, Interim Detachment Commander, Wellington County OPP. “We cannot emphasize this message enough. Not only must there be enough PFDs on a vessel for everyone on board, but you should also have it on, especially children. Most marine fatalities happen unexpectedly when a small boat capsizes, or someone falls overboard. A PFD left behind is not much use. We all play a part in marine safety. Please, if you come to enjoy the beautiful lakes in Wellington County, wear a PFD if you’re out on the water.”
