After a recent weekend boat patrol on Pavilion Lake, Lillooet RCMP say they were “saddened” to see safe boating regulations and fishing regulations were ignored by some boaters on the lake.

The Mounties, along with federal Fisheries officers from the Lillooet Division, checked dozens of boaters during the patrol.

“Several people received violation tickets as a result of the boat patrol,” said RCMP Sgt. Darrell Robinson. “Police will be conducting more of these patrols in the Lillooet area. Boaters who choose to ignore the rules will be facing charges under various acts and regulations.”

He said patrols will be random and could occur at any of the many lakes in the Lillooet area.

Robinson said the Lillooet RCMP wants to acknowledge the boaters who were checked and demonstrated they were operating their boats in a safe manner and should be out on the water.

“We want the general public to know that a designated driver is required on water, just as they are on land,” added Sgt. Robinson. “Intoxicated drivers of boats can and will be dealt with in the same fashion as an impaired driver of a vehicle when it comes to impaired operation.”