Summer has arrived, marking the start of boating season! It is finally time to relax, unwind, and cruise around the lake with some friends. With the hot sun beating down, it is only natural that most boaters would reach for an icy cold beer. Before doing so, however, there are a few legal considerations to keep in mind.
In the province of Ontario, a boat is considered a ‘motor vehicle’, meaning it is viewed as an equivalent to a car. The implication of this is that all drunk driving laws that many are familiar with from driving cars also directly apply to driving boats. Section 253(1) of the Criminal Code states that anyone who operates a motor vehicle or vessel , or has care or control of a motor vehicle or vessel while impaired by alcohol or a drug, commits a criminal offense. To be considered “impaired” means to have consumed a quantity of alcohol that makes a person’s Blood-Alcohol Concentration (BAC) level exceed 80 mg of alcohol per 100 mL of blood (0.08). The punishment for driving a boat while drunk varies, depending on the frequency and severity of the offence. A first offence may result in a […]
Full article: Safe Boating Week – Boating and Drinking: Know the Laws