Boaties, jet skiers and kayakers flouting the rules will be the focus of a major water safety blitz over the Australia Day long weekend.
The effort will see the Water Police Squad join forces with local units to conduct proactive patrols at popular waterways across the state and stop those putting others at risk.
Police will converge on boat ramps to conduct breath tests and licence checks as well as carry out vessel inspections to ensure operators have the required safety equipment on board such as lifejackets, torches and fire extinguishers.
Every summer police are left disappointed at unsafe behaviour on the water. This includes boat and jet ski operators travelling too close to swimmers and vessels, exceeding speed restrictions or ignoring no-boating zones.
Boat operators, jet skiers and kayakers failing to wear or carry a lifejacket is also of particular concern.
The law requires boat users to wear a lifejacket on a powered vessel up to 4.8m, when travelling solo, and at heightened risk.
It is mandatory for jet skiers and kayakers to wear a lifejacket at all times, yet police are still seeing people without them. Children aged under 12 must also wear a lifejacket at all times when in open areas of a vessel.
The Water Police Squad will use police boats and jet skis to support its rapid enforcement and won’t hesitate to remove impaired or unsafe operators from the water with anyone caught flouting the rules to face significant fines.
These includes fines of up to $380 for travelling at more than five knots within 50m of a vessel or swimmer, travelling at more than five knots within 200m of shore, operating in no-boating zones.
Those caught failing to wear a lifejacket face fines up to $385, and those caught using an unregistered vessel or operating unlicensed face fines of up to $925.
Police also have the power to take away a jet ski operator’s licence and seize their vessel if they’re putting other water users in danger. This includes penalties of up to $43,381 or imprisonment for two years.
The newly-formed Small Boat Team, launched as part of the Water Police Squad, will also boost enforcement efforts.
The team will be using a mix of jet skis and inflatable rescue boats to respond to search and rescue incidents on the water and target operators putting others at risk.
On top of this, special strike teams are regularly deployed to key waters to target anti-social behaviour and offences.
The Water Police Squad maintains a strong presence at key waters throughout the entire summer.
Attributable to Water Police Squad Acting Inspector Lynden Blackley:
“Water Police will have a bolstered presence right across the state over the Australia Day long weekend to ensure everyone is following the rules.
“We’ll be conducting proactive patrols at popular waterways, as well as blitzing boat ramps to conduct breath tests, licence checks and vessel inspections.
“We’ll also be looking out for boaties, jet skiers and kayakers not wearing or even carrying a lifejacket.
“A lifejacket is no good to you if you’re not wearing it. Wearing a lifejacket is such a simple measure to follow and can save your life.
“We need boaties, jet skiers and kayakers to know the rules on the water and adhere to them. The rules are there for a reason to keep you safe, and those who don’t follow them will be held to account and face significant fines.
“We have zero tolerance for anyone who puts others at risk and won’t hesitate to remove impaired or unsafe operators from the water.
“The community will continue to see Water Police out in force across the state to ensure everyone is safe while enjoying the water.”
