A man from Caledonia is facing charges after a woman was seriously injured in a boat collision with a break wall at the Belle River marina in Lakeshore Saturday, Nov.11.
Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) responded to the incident at about 4:20 p.m. and stated that an 18-foot boat struck the break wall at the Belle River pier.
The adult male was driving at the time of the boating accident, which caused a female passenger to be ejected from the vessel. The woman was seriously injured in the collision and both individuals were taken to the hospital.
The male driver was later charged with dangerous operation of a vessel causing bodily harm and impaired operation of a vessel. At the time of the collision, the man had more than 80 milligrams of blood alcohol.
Impaired Boating in Ontario
In Ontario, operating a boat under the influence of alcohol is considered a crime under the Criminal Code of Canada. It is treated in the same way as drunk driving and carries many of the same penalties.
Boaters who are caught drinking and boating in Ontario could face the following consequences:
- Boater operators caught in the “warn range” with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) between 0.05 and 0.08 could face an immediate three, seven or 30-day suspension of their driver’s license. Those who are caught more than once will be required to completed an alcohol education program and could be subject to treatment programs and ignition interlock.
- Boat operators with a BAC of 0.08 or above or who refuse to provide a breath or blood sample will face an immediate 90-day driver’s license suspension and a $198 fine.
- Those convicted under the Criminal Code could also face:
- Driver’s license suspension for one year or up to a lifetime
- Mandatory alcohol assessment, education or treatment
- Ignition interlock requirement for one year or up to a lifetime
- Vehicle impoundment if they are caught driving with a suspended license
These consequences apply to anyone who is operating a marine vessel, whether motorized or not. This can include:
- Power boats
- Kayaks
- Canoes
- Personal watercraft
- Sailboats
- Dinghies
- Rafts
- Inflatable boats
Windsor Ontario Boating Accident Lawyers
If you or someone you love has been injured in a boating accident caused by alcohol impairment, you may have legal rights to compensation for the pain and suffering, medical bills, and other damages you have experienced.
Do not hesitate to contact our trusted Windsor boating accident lawyers to learn more. We offer free, no obligation consultations and do not get paid unless we recover compensation for you.
Call (866) 320-4770 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form today.