BC Day ‘floating detachment’ issued 146 tickets

Some BC boaters need to adjust to safer boating practices.

Sicamous RCMP.

RCMP review efforts and results of August long weekend enforcement initiative on Shuswap Lake. Too many boats found in non-compliance on Shuswap Lake during August long-weekend enforcement and initiative.

The Sicamous RCMP along with Provincial and Federal enforcement agencies joined forces on the Shuswap this past August long weekend aboard a “floating Detachment”. Partners including the RCMP, Transport Canada, Ministry of Environment (BC Parks and Conservation Officer Service), and Ministry of Forests and Range conducted a three day patrol of the Shuswap and Mara lakes during the 2010 August long weekend.

“A unique approach was taken this year in order to maximize the efficiency and capacity of conducting enforcement patrols on land and water by utilizing a floating operation base or floating detachment.

This planned initiative, was a project which had been tabled and proposed over the past couple of years by the local planning group known as the Shuswap Lake Integrated Planning Process.

The S.L.I.P.P. planning committee includes, local and district government reps, non governmental agencies from the private sector in the community and public safety agency representatives. All were very interested in seeing the concept being carried out and we anticipated that our presence on the water would have several benefits as a result, these including, opportunities for the public to have on the water contact with all the agencies in efforts to educate the public in addition to acting as a visible deterrence. We want to encourage safe boating and parks use practices”. stated Cpl Dan Moskaluk.

The participating agencies have compiled the weekend’s statistics as follows:

Public Contact

• vessels 262
• Anglers 102
• Recreationists 201
• Total contacts 565

Enforcement Action

Tickets Warnings / Charges

• Campfires 3 / 4
• Fishing 20 / 31
• Boat Safety 59 / 29

Total 82 / 64

Monetary fine/warnings values $ 21,630 / $15,340

Vessels ordered to shore due to safety concerns

• 90

Private houseboat black-water tanks

• Inspections 6
• Infractions 0

Seizure of property and illegal materials

• illegally captured and retained fish (4)
• Fishing rods (1) and fishing gear (2) (ie: hooks (1) and bait (1)) used to commit an offence
• Drug paraphanalia (1)

The RCMP and other emergency public safety agency calls for service on the water were lower this year compared to this same period last year, of note BC Ambulance Services did not get a call for service on the water for the entire weekend.

The initiative will be considered as an option for future joint enforcement projects in the area. Click here for previous media release.

“We did not anticipate finding such a high number of vessels that were not in compliance. Boat owners and operators are ultimately responsible for what happens on the water throughout BC. A tremendous effort continues, into public service messaging by a number of governmental agencies and with the private sector in regards to safe boating practices in BC.

We would rather see high compliance as a result of education rather then enforcement, however, we are realisitic, that both approaches are neccessary” stated Cpl Dan Moskaluk.