TIMMINS - Two men have been fined after overstaying their legal welcome at a boat launch and dumping septic waste on public land.
In July, Paul Bellavance of Timmins and Bobby Beaulieu-Rousseau of Kapuskasing were in a Timmins court.
Both pleaded guilty to leaving a camper trailer in the same spot at Fortune Lake west of Timmins for more than 21 days and were each fined $1,897.
Each man was also fined $1,250 for depositing a substance on public land, and Bellavance was fined $1,000 for cutting down live trees without authorization.
The fines stem back to a July 17, 2023, complaint on the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry TIPS line about three camper trailers at the Fortune Lake boat launch that had been there for over 21 days, the maximum allowed for camping on Crown land. After 21 days, campers must be moved at least 100 metres from their previous location.
"On July 25, 2023, conservation officers attended the site and confirmed the trailers had been there more than 21 days," reads an MNRF news release.
"They also determined multiple live trees had been cut down and that the septic waste from each trailer was being deposited directly into the ground. Bellavance and Beaulieu-Rousseau were found to be the owners of the trailers and responsible for the tree clearing that had occurred."
The case was heard in Timmins by Justice of the Peace Christine Leclair.
The MNRF TIPS line can be reached toll free at 1-877-847-7667. To remain anonymous, call 1-800-222-8477.
