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"A Family Tradition for 126 Years" PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, May 26, 1992 - 11 Marine Patrol Unit will Want impact stay afloat thanks to community support By Marnie Luke Port Perry Star Last fall, the future of the Durham Regional Police's Ma- rine Patrol Unit looked bleak. Cutbacks in the police budget meant that the patrol boat may have taken its last cruise on the waters of Lake Scugog. Marine Patrol Unit Consta- ble Brian Hall had spent his past three summers on the lake, Inspecting boats, and enforcing safety regulations. It appeared he'd be trading in the patrol boat for a police cruiser. But this was all until the resi- dents of Scugog caught wind of the possible cancellation of the unit. The phone calls poured into the police station, and a petition was circulated. "They were asking us not to cut the Marine Unit. I never thought they did, but they actu- ally liked us being out there. We have the people to thank for the unit still being alive," Con- stable Hall said. Today, not only is the Marine Patrol Unit still in existence, but they have a new boat, more than twice the size of the old one. The 27-foot Baha cruiser is equipped with radio systems to the marinas, a police band ra- dio, a light bar, siren, and a P.A. system. It will patrol all of Lake Scugog and a small portion of Lake Simcoe. "It's a monster compared to the boat we had last year," Con- stable Hall said. The new boat will be ready for the water soon, and this year's Marine patrol is scheduled to begin on June 4. But although the police have a larger boat, the manpower for this year's Marine Patrol Unit has decreased. Only two officers, Constables Brian Hall and Doug Cava- naugh, will be out this year, compared to the four who pa- trolled last year. The officers will be working mainly on weekends and holi- days, as there is not as great a need during the week. "On some weekends, that lake can be just like the 401. Sometimes there's as many as 300 to 400 boats out there at one time," Constable Hall said. Throughout their 12-hour shift, Constables Hall and Cav- anaugh can stop up to 200 boats. Their main concern is with safety regulations and the con- sumption of liquor. Depending on the size of the boat, most are required to carry one life jacket per passanger, a sounding device, paddles, and a bailing instrument. Constable Hall said that over the four years the Marine Pa- trol has been in operation, he has seen an increased aware- ness of the safety standards. RG -« Brian Hall Because the lake is under federal jurisdiction, any offence 1s considered criminal. The po- lice cannot simply issue a tick- et, or force the boater to pay a fine. "People take it lightly if I give them a notice to appear in court. they don't go, there'll be a war- rant out for their arrest," Con- stable Hall said. The majority of the notices are issued for alcohol-related offences, or for failure to meet safety regulations. Constable Hall said they is- sued many warnings in past years, but will no longer be as forgiving. "By this time, it should just For Trimming, Pruning & Professional a Removal of Branches & Trees oJ ba *Stump Removal *Tree Removal & Pruning *Hedge & Shrub Trimming FREE APPRAISALS OF YOUR TREES & SHRUE \ DENI RET B.Sc. (Agr.) ~~ T & C LIMOUSINE SERVICE PORT PERRY PLAZA » 68 SCUGOG STREET DIVISION of THE BEST of THINGS FLORISTS But I tell them that if be common sense to boaters. There's going to be far fewer cautions this year," he said. Many of the boaters have good intentions when they do carry life jackets, but are still at risk of receiving a notice. Constable Hall explained that many people, such as bass fishermen, carry life jackets that cost as much as $300 each, but are purchased in the Unit- ed States, and are not approved by Canadian safety standards. But he said that many boat- ers actually ask the police to come on board their boats to in- spect their equipment, just to ensure they're not breaking any laws. In the event that a boat is short one life jacket, or another piece of safety equipment, the Marine Unit follows behind the boat until they dock or reach the shore. However, Constable Hall es- timates that the number of of- fences have dropped from 50 ver cent of all boats inspected three years ago, to approxi- mately 10 per cent last year. One problem that exists on the lake which the police have difficulty controlling is that of high speed boating. Because there is no speed limit on the lake, it's not easy to determine just when a boat is going too fast. Constable Hall said that any speed over 80 km per hour could be dangerous to other boaters, waterskiers, or wind- surfers. Marine Patrol officers attend an intensive two -week training course, and an annual four day marine conference. Although Constable Hall, has years of experience in boating, he still attends the conferences. He said that if the job for Ma- rine Patrol Unit was ever post- ed in the police station, there would be no problem filling the position. However, he insists that it 1s not the 'fun' job his colleagues may thinkitis. "I'm certainly not complain- ing, but there's some days when I'm out there in 100 degree -heat, and I'd love to be in an air conditioned cruiser," he said. i I i PORT PERRY FEEDS pls 40 Van Edward Dr. Port Perry 2.00 OFF COUPON 20 KG. Technical Maintenance Growth Lite / Senior / High Performance EXPIRES JUNE 13/92 i FELLA Ep ------------ From Page 1 SCOPE vice-president David Tasker made a presentation to council, outlining the organiza- tion's reasons for opposing the golf course. Mr. Tasker said SCOPE was undecided at first on whether or not to support the proposal. But after several meetings with Mr. Mills and his develop- ers, they made their decision. "We feel the people who want to build the course should do an environmental impact assess- ment at their own cost. But un- til they do, we're still opposed," Mr. Tasker said. He said SCOPE does support development, but not at the cost of natural heritage. After much discussion, Mayor Howard Hall decided that an- other public hearing on the is- sue will be necessary. "I think you still have a lot of work to do on your proposal, so until then, there will be no deci- sion on the matter," he said. assessment of the Environment (SCOPE). She said she would not give the proposal any consideration until the planners worked out such environmental concerns. But John Mills, who owns the proposed golf course property, assured council that no cut work or grading has yet been done on the land. Ward 4 Councillor David Dietlein posed questions about the type of pest control that would be in place, should the course be given approval. He said because the course would be located near marsh- land, he too would not support it until they came up with an inte- grated pest management pro- gram. The planners and developers told council they are certainly not out to harm the environ- ment, and will address any con- cerns the public may have. Such public concerns came from the Scugog Citizens' Or- ganization for the Preservation -- DON'T FORGET -- Operation Baby Clothes people of Peru. May 28th. THE The Rotary Club is sponsoring a clothes drive to aid the Used clothing & footwear for children up to age 10 (adult clothing also accepted) can be dropped off at Port Perry IGA - Queen St. or at A. Oppers Ltd. on North St. until "Children's Den 197 Queen Street, Port Perry 985-9982 ISAAOI YD | R30 o} 8 § reg. price \718) 3 3 RIE}! J 0 I 0} 3 § reg. price DRESSES 15% off reg. price Monday to Saturday 9:30 to 5:30 Sunday 1:00 to 5.00 ALLSEE EEE 1ELELILHLLL1LLLHLLLAGAE GRAN RAR RAR RAR RNARARNS RRNA NNY Tp | rr p= ~ = TROND SRN NEN D DEED SEINE EmmmD Winner of $50.00 Gift Certificate JOANNE DUTKA Port Perry WEDDINGS + AIRPORT SERVICE BUSINESS TRIPS « SPECIAL OCCASIONS § GRADUATIONS & PROMS SSE STEER SRR Risa: 985-0170 RE ---- ee -- . (705) 357-2570