A 20-year-old man from St Catharines is facing charges after allegedly driving a jet ski through the swimming area at Sunset Beach, according to the Niagara Regional Police. The incident occurred on Friday, July 26th, and was reported to the police by witnesses who observed jet skiers not wearing life jackets and operating in prohibited areas.
Officers from the Niagara Regional Police's marine unit responded to the scene and witnessed a man riding a jet ski in an area that was clearly marked as off-limits to vessels. Despite the presence of swimmers, the individual continued into open water, maneuvering the jet ski between them. As he reached the buoys, the suspect allegedly accelerated and began weaving in and out of the majority of the buoys lining the beach in a slalom-like motion.
The area where the incident took place is clearly marked with signs stating, "Private — no watercraft," indicating that operating any type of watercraft in the designated swimming area is prohibited. Ignoring these regulations, the 20-year-old man from St. Catharines now faces multiple charges. The charges against the individual include operating a vessel in a careless manner, operating a non-human powered pleasure craft without prescribed firefighting equipment on board, and operating a pleasure craft without transferring the license.
These regulations are in place to ensure the safety of swimmers and to prevent accidents. Anyone who witnesses a person operating a vessel in a careless manner is urged to contact the police at 905-688-4111, option 3, ext. 1024499. Alternatively, individuals can provide information anonymously through Crime Stoppers of Niagara online or by calling 1-800-222-8477.