Marine blitz results in numerous charges

The Rainy River District OPP detachment conducted marine patrols on Rainy Lake over the July 1 holiday weekend as part of the OPP Long Weekend Traffic/Marine Initiative focusing on preventing marine-related tragedies.
As a result, several charges were issued for a variety of offences.

On Sunday around 6 p.m., officers were conducting patrol in the area of Sand Point when they had the occasion to stop a small vessel with three adult males from Fort Frances.
As a result of the stop, one male was charged with having open liquor and possession of marijuana.
A second male was charged with failing to have hull serial numbers.
The third male was charged with having open liquor and a criminal violation of his probation order.
Also Sunday at 4:40 p.m., officers stopped a vessel in the area of Windy Point.
The operator, a 43-year-old Winnipeg male, was charged with failing to have safety equipment aboard his vessel.
On Saturday, officers stopped a vessel near Sand Point shortly after 6:30 p.m.
The operator, a 45-year-old male from International Falls, was charged with failing to have the required safety equipment on board.
Also Saturday around 6 p.m., the OPP marine unit was dispatched to assist officers working on land in response to a report of a liquor licence act violation at the government dock near Pither’s Point.
Upon arrival, officers located people on the dock consuming alcoholic beverages.
Witnesses said the group had been quite vocal and upsetting towards younger children swimming, causing the youngsters to leave the area.
A 23-year-old male and a 23-year-old female of Rainy River First Nation were charged with having open liquor.
Early Saturday, around 2:45 p.m., officers stopped a vessel on Red Gut Bay. Upon inspection, officers noted there were insufficient life jackets aboard in addition to having no safety equipment.
The operator, a 20-year-old male from Bluewater, Ont., was charged for these offences.
The OPP reminds the public that all operators of a vessel must ensure any flotation device aboard meets the requirements of the Small Vessel Regulations.
In addition, there must be one approved PFD of appropriate size for everyone on board the vessel, it must be in good working condition, and there shall be no damage to the device.