Water does not forgive carelessness

The Vitebsk transport prosecutor's office, together with inspectors of the State Inspectorate for Small Vessels for the Vitebsk region, is conducting raid activities on the water bodies of the Vitebsk region with the aim of preventing injuries and deaths of citizens during the operation of small vessels.

The operation of small vessels, especially those equipped with engines, poses an increased danger to skippers, persons on board a small vessel, as well as in the water.

The most common violation, both this year and in previous years, is traveling on a small vessel without a life jacket.

Thus, during raid activities on Lake Devino in the Orsha district and Lake Rybnoye in the Senno district, employees of the prosecutor's office and the small vessel inspectorate established numerous instances of skippers and persons on board a small vessel traveling without a life jacket.

In accordance with paragraph 9 of the Rules for the use of small vessels and bases (structures) for their parking, approved by the Resolution of the Council of Ministers of June 20, 2007 No. 812, the skipper and persons on board a small vessel must wear fastened life jackets while moving.

Based on the results of the raid, on Lake Rybnoye alone, due to violations of the requirements of the aforementioned Rules, 3 persons were brought to administrative responsibility under Part 1 of Article 18.8 of the Code of Administrative Offenses in the form of a fine, and 1 person was issued an official warning about the inadmissibility of violating the legislation. 12 persons operating small vessels on the aforementioned water bodies that day and who did not commit any violations were given preventive talks by employees of the controlling bodies, once again reminding them of the requirements of the Rules.

Since June of this year, inspector Lukin S.A. alone has brought 27 people to administrative responsibility for violating the Rules under Article 18.8 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Republic of Belarus.

Supervisory activities by the transport prosecutor's office in this area will continue.

Particular concern is caused by instances of being on a small vessel

vessel with underage children on board without life jackets, while the vessel is operated at high speed by the father or a relative of such underage children, i.e., exposing the life of a loved one to unjustified risk. In most cases, minors do not have swimming skills, and in a critical situation, this can lead to their death.

Water does not forgive carelessness.

Assistant to the Vitebsk Transport Prosecutor D. Kubrakov