The August long weekend was not without consequences for those in the region who took up boating or other forms of off-roading. Provincial police say officers were on patrol from July 29 to Aug. 2, across Algonquin Park, Georgian Bay, Lake Rosseau, Lake Joseph, Little Lake Joseph, Lake Dalrymple, Sparrow Lake, Pigeon Lake, Buckhorn Lake and Shadow Lake. Police were also present along waterways and trials in Huntsville, Bracebridge, Collingwood, Huronia West, Kawartha Lakes, Peterborough, Northumberland, Haliburton, Southern Georgian Bay and Orillia areas. Police say they laid a total of 42 charges across the various modes of transportation and issued 56 warnings to residents. OPP say they laid eight charges of failing to carry or wear a lifejacket, six counts of various Canada Shipping Act violations, two counts of towing a person without a spotter and one charge of permitting operation of a vessel without a Pleasure Craft Operator card. According to police, there were 14 charges laid for Liquor Licence and control act violations. Police also pressed for five charges for Highway Traffic Act violations, three charges for Off-Road Vehicle Act helmet violations and a hand-held device offence. OPP also handed out two charges for fishing without a licence.
