With balmy temperatures luring local residents out on the water and summer festival season in full swing, the North Shore RCMP is reminding boaters that drinking and driving a boat don’t mix.
“We enforce the waterways as we do the roadways in regard to impaired driving,” said Cpl. Richard De Jong, spokesman for the North Vancouver RCMP detachment.
Although there are no lanes and curbs on the water, reaction time and judgment while operating a boat can be impaired in the exact same way they can while driving a car, De Jong noted.
“The margin of error is very, very narrow when you’re on the water,” he said.
North Vancouver RCMP officers are out patrolling local waters on a police boat from the First Narrows in Burrard Inlet right up through Indian Arm.
“We are on the water pretty much every day,” said De Jong.
Police do safety checks for safety equipment and compliance with Transport Canada regulations both at local boat ramps and out on the water.
Officers will also be out for the upcoming Celebration of Light fireworks nights, starting July 29, which often see an increase in recreational boat traffic, including those unfamiliar with navigating in the dark. “We’ve had some close calls,” said De Jong.
