Impaired Boating = Impaired Driving

As of June 22, 2006, boaters caught drinking and boating in Ontario will face the same penalties as those for drinking and driving.  Penalties include:

• 12-hour driver’s licence suspension if caught with a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) in the “warn” range (0.05 to 0.08).
• For boaters exceeding a 0.08 BAC:
• Immediate 90-day driver’s licence suspension;
• Mandatory alcohol assessment, education and follow-up as a condition of licence re-instatement;
• Installation of an Ignition Interlock on the boater’s vehicle (their vehicle, not their boat);
• Vehicle impoundment for driving while under suspension; and,
• If convicted under the Criminal Code of Canada, the boater’s driver’s licence can be suspended for one year up to a lifetime depending on whether it is a first, second, or subsequent offence.

These penalties apply to anyone who is caught drinking and operating motorized and non-motorized vessels, including power boats, canoes, kayaks, jet-skis, sailboats, dinghies and other inflatable boats and rafts.