Our Mission:
To provide a safe and secure boating environment through education and enforcement
The Essex OPP Marine Unit consists of a six dedicated patrol officers and two summer students. The unit operates a 32' Hike patrol launch, a 24' Seaswirl skiff and a Seadoo Explorer. Our policing mandate is to enforce applicable Federal, Provincial and Municipal statutes and to provide educational opportunities for area boating organizations.
The Marine Unit patrols the western end of Lake Erie, the Detroit River and Lake St. Clair areas. Essex O.P.P. marine operates daily patrols and conducts regular operations to ensure the safety of the citizens of both Canada and the United States and frequently acts in co-operation with law enforcement marine units from the Windsor Police Service, Lasalle Police Service, Amherstburg Police Service, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Ministry of Natural Resources, Canada Customs, United States Coast Guard, Border Patrol, Detroit Police, Wayne County Sheriff's Office and other federal, state and municipal agencies. The Unit also assists both Canadian and U.S. Coast Guard as well as neighbouring U.S. police agencies with Search and Rescue, Law Enforcement and Security duties.
Officers from the unit will provide public education presentations in boating safety and marine law for local marinas, boating organizations and other interested groups. For more information about these presentations please contact the Essex County OPP.
Alcohol and Boating
40 % of all victims killed in power-boating accidents had a blood alcohol in excess of the legal limit (80 mgs of alcohol in 100 ml of blood). Most people don't realize that the combination of sun, wind, wave motion and fatigue are intensified by even the moderate consumption of alcoholic beverages.
In the waters of Ontario, the possession and consumption of alcohol on board a vessel is governed by the Liquor Licence Act (LLA). It states that;
- a) no person may consume alcohol on board a vessel while it is underway
- b) alcohol stored on board a vessel must be in a closed cabinet.
- c) alcohol may only be consumed on a vessel if;
- It is anchored, docked or moored to another vessel;
- It is suitably equipped as a residence with a permanent head, cooking and sleeping facilities; and
- The person is at least 19 years of age.
The LLA further goes on to give police officers the authority to board and search, without a warrant, any vessel they reasonably believe to contain alcohol in contravention of any of the sections of the act. Any liquor that the officer believes has been used in the commission of the offence, or that may be used to continue the offence, is subject to seizure.
The Criminal Code of Canada states that any person who operates or has care or control of a vessel while their ability to operate the vessel is impaired by alcohol, or operates or has care or control of a vessel while their blood alcohol content is in excess of 80 mgs of alcohol in 100 ml of blood, is guilty of an offence and can face fines up to $2000.00, three year prohibition from operating a vessel in Canada and up to six months in jail. If you are involved in a boating accident while your ability is impaired by alcohol you can face up to 10 years imprisonment. Boaters from another province or country will be required to post a $500 bond before they can be released from custody.
Police officers in Canada have the authority to demand an immediate breath sample based solely on the suspicion that the operator of the vessel has consumed an alcoholic beverage.
