The owner of a speedboat capable of hitting speeds of 150 km/h has been charged for an alleged fling on the weekend at Sylvan Lake.
Sylvan Lake RCMP said they received numerous calls Saturday regarding a large offshore racing boat on the lake that was producing an extremely loud engine noise.
The boat was met by police at the Sylvan Lake Marina, where it was found to not have an engine muffler system, Sgt. Duncan Babchuk said on Tuesday.
The boat was also determined to not be in compliance with the Canada Shipping Act.
It’s alleged the boat was unlicensed and the operator could not provide any documentation relating to the pleasure craft.
Investigators learned that the 14-metre-long (47 feet) boat was recently imported into Canada from the United States.
It was seized under provisions of the Customs and Excise Act, as the operators also had no documentation relating to its purchase and conveyance into Canada.
Timothy McGregor, 37, of Hinton faces charges of operating an unlicensed pleasure craft, contrary to the Small Vessel Regulations of the Canada Shipping Act, Operating a power-driven vessel without a muffler in use to prevent excessive or unusual noise, contrary to the Small Vessel Regulations of the Act.
Babchuk said an operator of this type of vessel without noise abatement equipment, must be a minimum of eight km from shore. These types of vessels are prohibited on Sylvan Lake, he added.
Federal Act charges are pending, police said.
McGregor makes his first court appearance on Sept. 24, in Red Deer provincial court.
Babchuk said RCMP advise the public that the offences relating to the Canada Shipping Act will be enforced and charges may be laid if anyone is found to not be in compliance.
Babchuk said the boat is estimated to cost about $380,000.
The cigarette or go-fast boat is designed with a long narrow platform and a planing hull so it can reach high speeds.
Originally they were called “rum runners” because during the Prohibition they were used to transfer rum from larger vessels waiting outside the territorial waters of the United States.
Their speed allowed them to avoid interception by the Coast Guard.
More recently, they have been found smuggling cigarettes between the U.S. and Canada.
They have also been used by drug smugglers to transfer drugs across the Caribbean to the U.S.
jwilson@www.reddeeradvocate.com