Manitoulin OPP in full force for Haweater Weekend
The Manitoulin Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) operational safety plan is in place for one of Manitoulin Island summer’s busiest weekends—Haweater Weekend—which runs from Friday, July 31 to Monday, August 3. The start of mid-summer holiday traffic will be met with strict enforcement as officers work to make this weekend a safer place to travel to.
The main enforcement objective is to slow traffic down and officers will take a no nonsense approach to tailgating and other aggressive driving behaviour that tend to force other road users into dangerous situations. Also people planning to come to the island to openly consume alcohol and cause problems will be dealt with in a strict fashion.
Infractions under the Liquor Licence Act like drinking in public areas, drinking under age and public intoxication will not be tolerated. Staff Sergeant Kevin Webb, detachment commander for the Manitoulin OPP, stated, “we are prepared and ready for any problems that might arise during the long weekend. We have extra officers assigned and we will be checking everyone. R.I.D.E. spot checks will be in place at the entrances to the Island and at other locations around town. Officers will be checking drivers’ alcohol consumption and other drugs, open liquor in the vehicle and the proper licencing. During the weekend the OPP will have officers on foot patrol and bicycle patrol in areas that large crowds might gather like the street dance and fireworks. We want everyone to have fun and safe weekend to enjoy the festivities however if people make the choice to break the laws we will be there to deal with them as no breaks will be given,” Staff Sgt. Webb added.
The Manitoulin OPP Traffic and Marine enforcement plan has officers focussing on highway traffic patrols during the peak travel days and redirecting focus to waterway patrols when boaters take to the water. Automobile drivers and boat operators are encouraged to take responsibility for their personal safety and that of their family. Make sure that passengers wear their seat belts in the car and personal flotation devices (PFD) while on the water.
“All and all Manitoulin Haweater Weekend is a wonderful family event for everyone to enjoy and we want to keep it that way. I want people to know that if a person is planning on attending to cause problems like using illegal drugs, drinking in public and trespassing on property, you can be guaranteed that you will be dealing with us,” Staff Sgt. Webb advised. “We want people to be responsible for their actions and want the public aware we will there to see that this happens.”
Concerned citizen alerts police of impaired driver
On Friday, July 24 at around 7 pm, the Manitoulin Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) received a call about a possible impaired driver driving a green Chevrolet adjacent to Highway 6 near the swing bridge in Little Current. Police attended the area and finally located the vehicle in a parking lot by a grocery store in Little Current. Upon checking the driver of the vehicle a strong odor of alcohol was detected.
As a result of this a 36-year-old male of St. Catharines was arrested and charged with the following: impaired driving and refusing to provide a breath sample.
The accused was released on a Promise to Appear for the Ontario Court of Justice in Gore Bay for August 31, 2015 to answer to the said charges.
