Police in Queensland and NSW are warning Jet Ski riders that deliberately spraying innocent bystanders – on another boat, by the water’s edge, or on an overhead bridge – is assault and a chargeable offence that will lead to a day in court.
And, depending on the jurisdiction, if found guilty Jet Ski riders could have their craft confiscated and/or face thousands of dollars in fines and (possibly) jail time.
Authorities are cracking down big time after a number of innocent bystanders were recently sprayed by Jet Skis – some of which appeared to have been modified in a way that enabled their jet pumps to blast greater volumes of water a greater distance than normal.
In one instance reported in Queensland, a young couple and their four-month-old baby were sprayed while on the water’s edge.
In a separate incident, a man age in his 60s was targeted. A Jet Ski rider was charged with seven offences including four counts of common assault, two counts of serious assault person over 60, and one count commit public nuisance.
In these incidents, police were able to apprehend the alleged offenders on the Jet Ski after using a combination of police and maritime officers on the water and at a boat ramp – and captured vision using a police-operated drone.
In a joint police and maritime operation over two weeks in Queensland last month, authorities intercepted 86 Jet Ski riders – and six people are now facing 23 charges, including common and serious assault.
Police will allege the Jet Ski riders were operating craft equipped with modified jet pump nozzles – that spray an excessive amount of water a greater distance than normal – and deliberately rode close to ferries and charter boats to drench the people on board.
While it is not yet illegal to fit such modifications to a Jet Ski, it is illegal to use them to target other waterway users or people by the water’s edge.
Footage on social media shows Jet Skis – apparently equipped with modified jet pump nozzles – drenching people at boat ramps, boat docks and on overhead pedestrian bridges.
In response to questions from Watercraft Zone, the Queensland Police Service said:
“The Queensland Police Service (QPS) will not tolerate any dangerous or antisocial behaviour by Jet Ski riders on any Queensland waterway.
“The spray from a powered Jet Ski wash, when it is concentrated and directed towards a person, has potential to cause injury and harm to victims.
“In one incident in Brisbane, the impact of a Jet Ski’s spray knocked a woman on a nearby path to the ground.
“The deliberate spraying of members of the public is not harmless fun; it is a criminal assault.
“Police will take enforcement action against anyone found to commit offences of this nature.
“The [Queensland Police Service] warns Jet Ski riders to not let a day out on the water result in a day in court.”
NSW Maritime confirmed it is illegal for a rider of a Jet Ski (PWC) to ‘soak’ or ‘spray’ other waterway users or people near the water’s edge.
In response to questions from Watercraft Zone, NSW Maritime said: “There is a specific offence under section 13A of the Marine Safety Act for menacing another person.
“If proven, serious penalties apply and the vessel can then be seized and impounded for a period of time under section 19 of the Marine Safety Act.
“Second or subsequent offences could result in the vessel being forfeited to the crown.
“There are also additional offence related to Reckless, Dangerous and/or negligent navigation depending on the circumstances of how the vessel is used to endanger persons.”
The maximum penalties in NSW for such offences are as follows:
(1) Offence – intent to menace
A person must not operate a vessel in any navigable waters in a manner that menaces another person with the intention of menacing that other person.
Maximum penalty – 30 penalty units ($3300) or imprisonment for 18 months or both (in the case of a first offence) or 50 penalty units ($5500) or imprisonment for 2 years or both (in the case of a second or subsequent offence).
(2) Offence – possibility of menace
A person must not operate a vessel in any navigable waters in a manner that menaces another person if the person ought to have known that the other person might be menaced.
Maximum penalty – 20 penalty units ($2200) or imprisonment for 12 months or both (in the case of a first offence) or 30 penalty units ($3300) or imprisonment for 18 months or both (in the case of a second or subsequent offence).
A statement issued by Queensland Police last month said a recent crackdown “specifically targeted riders who are alleged to have deliberately utilised modified, high-powered Jet Skis to spray passengers on ferries, charter vessels, at ferry terminals, and pedestrians using public walkways.
“Our marine incident data shows [personal watercraft/Jet Skis] are disproportionately represented in reported marine incidents and accidents – all too often resulting in serious injury outcomes.”
Watercraft Zone sent the following questions to Trim X for comment. We will update this story with their response.
We are doing a story about waterway authorities cracking down on Jet Ski riders who deliberately drench or soak other waterway users, boats, or pedestrians by the water or on overhead bridges – including riders who have modified their Jet Skis (personal watercraft) with Trim X nozzles (or similar) that are designed to spray an excessive amount of water in the air and for quite some distance.
We are seeking your responses to the following questions.
- Does Trim X condemn such behaviour?
- Why does Trim X sell such devices?
- What is the intention of such devices?
- If Trim X condemns such behaviour why does it sell merchandise that includes a hat that says “misbehave”?
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