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PAGE 4, *kâi3 ïju~ ?bd Boatowner, stranded, is fr*ned by polioe 2 Westney Rd. North, Town of Ajax Mnutes to GO Train & Pickering Town Centre 7 NOW RENTING 2 & 3 Bedroom units & Penthouse Suites FROM $995/month FEATURES INCLUDE: -5 appliances including ensuite, Iaundry facilities -Wall to wmil carpeting- Individually controlled heating and air conditioning - o Outdoor pool, *Whirlpool, saunas and exercise room FOR APPOINTMENT 428- 7162 ASK ABOUT OUR ATTRACTIVE MOVE-IN BONUS BTrudieZavadovics A Whtby man, stranded when bis boat boe down in Lake Ontario off Whitby harbor reci- ved afine from a passing CmSp vessel and was leR o make bis own way home. Phillip Branten was tiyinlgte find out why bis boat conked out on the evening of July 5 whem a passing RCMP boat puiled up. Branton said hie was teld by the RCMP officer that since the boat was broken dowm, police might as weil cerry out inspec- tion. Branten was unaware of a recent law that said ail boats must have six flares. He had no flares on his boat and was fmed $50 by the officers. The safety check came up with no more infractions. According te Branten, the offi- cers said they could in no way tow bis boat because they were not a twn service. They tldBranten teoeal someone for help, not even offer- ing te make the oeils themseives. àeffort was made te help me. They seid under no circum- stances couid they tew me in,» said Branten, who, added that the officers equated it te, the highway OPP not towing cars. «They do mot offer te, save a life first.» Branton said that with the wind and tlie current biowing the same way, it wouid have taken hlm 90 minutes te reach shore. "They should have offered te take me off the boat and take me te, Whitby Harbor,» said Branton. «It's damm scary out there. I managed te cail a friemd, who was 10 miles away. He drove for 45 minutes te get me.» Branton said the officers said that they could oniy stick around a few minutes after the inspec- tion and that théy had te, go. Although they seid they saw a boat, tbrough binoculars, in the far distance, it was not evident that it was comimg te help the stranded boater. "I just can't believe it,» said Branten. "It is a stupid attitude-. They were more interested in giving me a citation.» He said that in four years he's neyer had any trouble, and the flrst time he needs heip, he can't get it. «What are we paying for? A marina with no meens of res- cue?" Branton says he wonders how manýY other emergemcy situations are igmored. He can~t understand why the officers didn't take hlm off the boat and cali for heip. "I don't think it (the situation) ___________________________________________________________________m - AL -ITUE LAM is as sinister as this man seems to apparentiy say,» says Corp. Mike Jarvis, of eéderal enforce- ment section. "They stayed until they were sure things were ini control. «If he wouid have requested it,' they wouid have taken hlm toý shore. He may be teiling you-. something that didn't happ en, They could have brouqht=l ashore,» said ,Jarvis. 'As we understood it, he had assistance, on the way.» Jarvis 'says that RCMP oniy tow boats in emergency situa-' tions. 'he bottom lime is were. not a rescue or towing vessel. There are other agencies who do tow. You must realize there are r vate individuals who tow. 'WVe wiii ini emergency circumstaiices if there is danger to ife.» Wbitb Mayor Bob Attersiey, 1' who caed ]Branton after the incident, told the, Whitby Free Press that he wiii talk to Dur- ham Regionai Police (Jhief Dave- Edwarde about the situation, but' didn't want to comment on the: RCMP policy. «We h ave no control over thé RCMWP. I will not interfere with their operation.» 1 .. Ontario riding MP Rene Soe- tens was unaware of the, incident and said he had a very iiiniteéd knowiedge of the situation. But he agreed that RCMP is mot in the business of towing. «I cen oniy, surmi'se the RCMP saw mo immediate danger." -He says he can't'recall reoeiv- mgany complaints about the I have no idea i ts adequate or not. I can oniy surmise that it's adequate.» Accordig to marina, foreman- Mark Collins, there gre two ýres- cue units or peopie'i trouble,' the City Of Oshawa Marine Res- cue Association (COMRA) and the Pickering Ajax Rescue Unit. (PARU). "f you have a boat, you shoula have a VHF radio licence," says Collins. Instructions tell them (boaters) how to radio. There is a telephome handbook called the Marine Radio Teieraph Com- munications Bookiet. Branton will be back in the SSER PAGE 26 ffdCREATIONS ____mA«x SILK GolWS Hand Beaded Bridai Gowns Bridai Accessonoe Custom Taiioning to ail Gowns Mother of Bride and Groom Fashions Classic Eveni ng Wear Affordabie Prices Aradhab*Exaly iii Durham Region ai ______CUSIOM CREATIONI 4!Il Dunda S .t E-iai?. W/,uibr Fur Appouum.n.s (ail (41)>410O8y85 1 1 " c , , A ; t ý