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Overcrowding Boats

RENTER MAY FACE CHARGES IN PARTY BOAT FATALITY

Police in Kelowna, B.C., are considering laying a charge of criminal negligence causing death after an overcrowded party boat capsized on Okanagan Lake last week.
Ref. https://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/20...rges050613.html

Boats Overcrowding

The question that the article doesn't answer is did he know the limit on the boat, and did he know how many people where on the boat? It was a birthday celebration and things got out of hand and someone died. Its terribly tragic, but not criminal. What will sending him to jail do that accidentally causing the death of his friend hasn't already done? And how could the renter possibly be to blame unless he already knew how many people where going to be on the boat. That question is also not answered in the article.

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I can answer that it is actually much the same as a car. The"captain" is solely responsible for the health and well fare of all those aboard. He is also like a truck driver responsible to know before getting aboard the limitations of the craft that mean weight capacity and limitations on the number of people and ensuring all safety equipment is on board and in working order. Ignorance is no excuse, if you do not know why in heck are you on board as the driver?

Being a rental I would think the renter would have obligations also to ensure the person was competent to operate the craft though a waiver might take care of that.