Latest news with #marineunit
CTV News
09-07-2025
- CTV News
Improper boat lighting trends prompt warning from OPP marine unit
An Ontario Provincial Police marine unit boat on patrol is shown in this undated image. (File photo/Ontario Provincial Police/X) The West Parry Sound OPP marine unit is urging boaters to ensure proper lighting on their vessels after noticing a rise in violations during nighttime hours. Authorities say factory-installed LED docking lights and aftermarket LED light bars, while popular, are often misused. While these bright lights are acceptable when docking, using them while navigating is both unsafe and illegal. 'They are blinding and often render the red and green bow lights ineffective,' police noted in a recent social media post. Under the Canada Shipping Act, boats must display properly lit red and green bow lights along with an all-around white stern light after sunset. Police emphasized that the stern light – sometimes seen as an inconvenience – is critical for alerting boaters approaching from behind. Failing to comply with lighting regulations can result in fines of $180. Ontario Provincial Police are reminding operators to check their setups to avoid penalties and ensure safer nighttime travel on the water.
CTV News
05-07-2025
- CTV News
Nearly a dozen infractions issued by WPS marine unit during Canada Day long weekend
The Windsor Police Marine Unit was kept busy during the Canada Day long weekend, and more of the same is expected this weekend as our U.S. neighbours enjoy the Independence Day long weekend. The marine unit, which patrols the Detroit River from Amherstburg all the way to the border between Tecumseh and Windsor along the St. Clair River, issued 11 infractions during the Canada Day long weekend for things like speeding, open alcohol onboard a vessel, and missing documentation. Windsor Police Marine Unit Const. Jay Lemiere said many of the speeding infractions revolve around boaters not knowing about some of the speed zones or not respecting the '10-30 rule,' which requires that a vessel only travel at 10 km/h within 30 meters of shore to reduce waves that can cause shoreline damage. 'Several locations around the city and in LaSalle where you're not allowed to speed at all. It's nine or 10 km/h. A lot of people still miss the signs or are not educated with the '10-30 rule' close to shore,' he said. Lemiere said there are buoys set up on either end of the speed zones in the areas they patrol. 'Depending on where they're coming from, they're going to pass a buoy no matter what. I also believe some people don't know the area, which is some of the wording we get from the boaters as well,' he said. Lemiere said if the driver of a boat and any passengers are anchored somewhere and not impaired, the fine for having open alcohol on a vessel is $50 plus a victim surcharge. 'We got a lot of tips from people who are on the water and will call police while they're on the water watching people consume alcohol or drugs,' he said. 'A lot of people don't understand that as police officers on the water, we're actually allowed to board the vessel, like physically get on their vessel and do a safety inspection. With that, we do find open alcohol.' At the start of the boating season, the marine unit listed speeding and vessels not making way or giving Great Lakes freighters enough space as two of the bigger issues officers were dealing with on the water. Lemiere pointed out that it seems boaters are getting the message about getting out of the way of freighters, as there have been fewer issues around that problem. - Written by Rusty Thomson/AM800 News.
CBS News
12-05-2025
- CBS News
Water rescue underway in Lake Michigan at 31st Street Harbor, Chicago police say
Chicago police confirmed a water rescue effort is underway at 31st Street Harbor in Chicago's Bronzeville neighborhood Monday afternoon. CPD said that about 1:55 p.m., their marine unit was called to the 3100 block of S. DuSable Lake Shore Drive for reports of a person in the water. Video posted on the Citizen app showed a significant presence of first responders by the water. Marine unit members could be seen descending long ladders that first responders had placed in the water on the far side of the break wall, opposite to the docking area of the harbor. No further information from officers at the scene was immediately available, Chicago police said. It was not known how the person came to be in the water, or whether only one person or more than one person was involved in the incident. No further details were immediately available.
