Police offer up some safety advice to boaters planning to hit the water for the long weekend

Boaters are excited to make some waves this summer. Constable Ben Rushton of the Hamilton police marine unit says boaters usually forget a few things when they first launch their vessels.

According to the Canadian safe boating council, the biggest cause of boating fatalities is not wearing a life jacket. The marine unit hit Hamilton harbour, looking to educate boaters. The Hamilton police marine unit didn’t hand out any tickets, just warnings but a boater they did pull over could have faced hefty fines for not having the right equipment in his boat.

This is the first boating season that marijuana is legal so police are expecting to see more of it on the water this summer. The cannabis high isn’t the only concern Rushton says lake Ontario is two feet higher than normal right now, he says to look out for objects like buoy’s or rocks that are now just below the surface.