Boaters on Okanagan Lake respectful of rules over the Canada day long weekend

KELOWNA – Okanagan Lake was filled with boaters this past weekend, and according to RCMP, most were taking the safety precautions necessary under the current flooding conditions.

RCMP boats from West Kelowna and Kelowna were monitoring lake action over the long weekend and say they were happy with what they found.

“Officers had a difficult time locating vessels on the water with insufficient personal flotation devices or proper life jackets for all passengers on board along with other essential safety equipment dependent on the size of their vessel,” said an RCMP press release.

An offense officers did encounter were boaters without valid proof of licensing and ownership of their vessel, according to the release.

Noise was the other issue officers ran into. However, police attribute the noise to loud exhaust systems, and not music specifically.

To find out more about boating safety, as well as equipment required for operating a vessel you can visit the Transport Canada webpage. For information on small vessel regulations, visit the Government of Canada Justice of Laws website.

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