As with other Australian states, the number of Jet Skis in Victoria has grown dramatically in recent years.
However it seems not all Jet Ski riders know the rules – or have forgotten them after they passed the test to get their Jet Ski licence.
Strict rules apply to riders of Jet Skis and personal watercraft (PWC) – and there are big fines for doing the wrong thing.
Authorities in Victoria also have the power to seize Jet Skis – and a rider’s photo and video footage – if a dangerous riding offence has been committed.
However, the fines for Jet Skis and personal watercraft in Victoria are not easy to find online.
With the assistance of Victoria Police and Safe Transport Victoria, Watercraft Zone has compiled a list of some – but not all – Jet Ski offences and fines in Victoria.
As there are no national rules for Jet Skis, some offences and fines listed below for Victoria may or may not apply in other states.
For Jet Ski fines in other Australian states, see the links at the bottom of this story.
As is the case in NSW and Queensland, authorities in Victoria have the power to seize a vessel or Jet Ski for dangerous riding offences, as well as impose long-term waterway licence bans.
Authorities in Victoria also use handheld lidar (laser) speed-detection devices to check vessels in low-speed zones, and Water Police are now equipped with body-worn cameras to capture dangerous riding offences.
In response to our queries, a statement from Victoria Police to Watercraft Zone said:
“Jet Skis are not harmless toys – they are high powered vessels which have the potential to cause lifelong harm if in the wrong hands.”
“Every single day we have Water Police units out patrolling, stopping Jet Skis and conducting both licence and vessel checks.”
“That’s evident in the some 300 infringement notices we have issued to Jet Ski operators this year alone.”
“Only this month police were patrolling the Port Melbourne area when they caught two Jet Skiers riding dangerously close to swimmers.”
“The pair was charged with serious offences and banned from riding for 48 hours.”
“Jet Ski operators need to take responsibility for their own behaviour. There is no excuse for not knowing the rules and there is no excuse for putting other water users at risk.”
“This summer we will be conducting several proactive operations, on top of our normal patrols, to target rogue Jet Ski riders both on the water and at boat ramps.”
A statement from Chris Banks, Executive Director of Safety, Strategy and Regulation at Safe Transport Victoria said:
“Dangerous and illegal behaviour on our waterways, particularly around swimming areas, will not be tolerated and Jet Ski users who flout the laws will be caught, and can face significant penalties.”
“This summer, enforcement agencies, including Safe Transport Victoria and Victoria Police, will be present across Victorian waterways to ensure safe interactions between Jet Ski riders and other waterway users.”
“Boats and Jet Skis that are speeding or operated erratically close to shore pose a significant safety risk for swimmers and other waterway users.”
Authorities in Victoria advise anyone who witnesses unsafe Jet Ski behaviour or rule breaches should report the incident to the Victorian Water Police on 1800 135 729, or through the Safe Transport Victoria incident reporting form: www.safetransport.vic.gov.au.
Jet Skis and personal watercraft (PWC) operated in Victoria are subject to ‘hoon’ legislation, which means owners and/or operators can be prosecuted for dangerous riding offences – and PWCs (Jet Skis) “can be seized, impounded and embargoed”.
“Victoria Police has the power to seize, impound or immobilise a vessel, if there is reasonable grounds to believe a recreational vessel is being or has been used in the commission of a relevant offence.”
“In addition, Victoria Police and Maritime Safety Victoria have the power to embargo and prohibit the use and operation of a vessel.”
“The laws also empower Victoria Police to impound, immobilise or seize a vessel or have a vessel forfeited.”
“Authorities in Victoria have … the power to operate or move a trailer or vehicle on which the vessel is resting or by which it is transported – or the option of serving a notice of surrender on the owner or registered person, allowing 10 days to prepare the vessel for safe storage and transport it to the place of storage.”
“A Magistrates’ Court may extend period of detention of vessel.”
Victoria Police and Victoria Transport Safety Officers also have the authority to seize photos and video footage from phones and/or action cameras such as GoPros.
“If the transport safety officer, or a person assisting the transport safety officer, finds that a disk, tape, or other device for the storage, receipt or transmission of information at searchable premises or on a searchable bus or vessel contains information the officer believes on reasonable grounds is relevant to determining (an offence) the officer or person assisting the officer may:
“Put the information in documentary form and seize the documents so produced;
“Copy the information to another disk, tape or other storage device and remove that storage device from the searchable premises or searchable bus or vessel;
“If it is not practicable to put the information in documentary form nor to copy the information, (the officer) may seize the disk, tape or other storage device and the equipment that enables the information to be accessed.”
In Victoria, the 5-knot zone in Port Phillip Bay is currently the only waterway where “irregular riding” is prohibited (in addition to speed and distance rules). A fine of $395 applies.
The offence of “irregular riding” – which has applied to the 5-knot zone in Port Phillip Bay since 16 December 2019 – is defined as operating a PWC (Jet Ski) in an irregular or erratic manner, including:
- Weaving or diverting course that another person would be unable to predict;
- Surfing down or jumping over or across any waves, wake or wash;
- Freestyling, which includes manoeuvres such as sharp turns, circular or semi-circular operation of the personal watercraft.
Victoria fines and penalties for Jet Skis:
- Operate a PWC (Jet Ski) while unlicenced: $988
- Operate a PWC (Jet Ski) while it is unregistered: $988
- Not wear life jacket while operating or riding a PWC (Jet Ski): $395
- Irregular riding in the 5-knot zone in Port Phillip Bay: $395
- Offensive noise (sound system on vessel): Referred to Environmental Protection Agency
- Offensive noise (engine noise on vessel): Referred to Environmental Protection Agency
- Fail to produce licence on demand: $197
- Activate flares when not in distress: Court Attendance Notice, fine up to $3900 (20 Penalty Units)
- Fail to stop when directed by patrol vessel with lights activated: Court Attendance Notice, fine up to $11,800 (60 Penalty Units)
- All speeding offences: $395
- Navigate too close to other vessels at speed: $395
- Navigate too close to swimmers and paddle craft at speed: $395
- Operating a vessel recklessly or in a manner that menaces another person: Court Attendance Notice, fine up to $47,400 or up to two years imprisonment (240 Penalty Units)
- Fail to keep a proper lookout: Court Attendance Notice, fine up to $23,700 (120 Penalty Units)
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