Quebec provincial police take advantage of fireworks to teach boaters about safety

Quebec'sprovincial police force is usingthe ongoing International des Feux Loto-Qubec fireworks showto teach people about boating safety with acampaign on the St. Lawrence River, and Radio-Canada joined them for a sail.

On Wednesday, some 80 boats were on the river in Montreal's Old Port with people aboard hoping to enjoy the weekly fireworks show.

"We're patrolling the St. Lawrence Seaway, and we intercept boats randomly," said Quebec provincial police officer Jean-Franois Villemure.

The goal is to ensure boaters have licenses, registration and safety equipment such as float lines, fire extinguishers and life jackets.

The Suret du Qubec takes about 1,000 nautical outings per year, during which they give out about 800 tickets and 3,500 warnings.

"I choose some boats because there are a lot of people on them," Villemure said.

Most offences have to do with flotation devices either there are not enough, or they are not the right size.

Boaters have the right to consume alcohol, but cannot exceed the legal blood alcohol concentration of .08, which is80 milligramsof alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood

Also, all security features must be easily accessible on the boat. If it takes five minutes to get the safety equipment out, it doesn't work, Villemure said.

During the fireworks this summer, Montreal and Longueuil police will also be patrolling the St. Lawrence River.