Alcohol laws when boating in NSW

NSW Police renewed their calls for boating safety following a crazy incident where a man was charged after a dramatic boat crash at Lake Macquarie on Saturday (December 23, 2017).

Just before 1.30pm on the Saturday, emergency services were called to Green Point Reserve at Valentine after reports a boat had crashed.

There were unconfirmed reports online that the boat was speeding through no-wash zones, that NSW Maritime officers gave chase, and that the driver of the boat was so legless he couldn't stand.

NSW Police say initial investigations point to the 40ft Riviera cruiser travelling north along the shoreline before turning and hitting the embankment, crashing into trees and rocks, obviously at a decent speed judging by the photos online accompanying this story.

Officers from Lake Macquarie Local Area Command attended and spoke to the skipper and sole occupant, a 48-year-old man, who was uninjured.

He was subjected to a breath test, which he allegedly refused. The alcohol limit for driving a boat in NSW is below 0.05, the same as a car.

NSW Police began random drug and alcohol testing as part of a new three-year Maritime Enhanced Enforcement Program starting October 2017. Here are the laws regarding boating and alcohol in NSW...

ALCOHOL LIMITS IN NSW
Driving a boat under the influence of alcohol or drugs is an offence in most states including NSW.

NSW Maritime says a designated driver (skipper) should remain under the legal limit when out on the water in case you need to move your vessel.

Random breath testing (RBT) and random drug testing (RDT) can be conducted on the operator of a vessel while it is underway, including drifting.

Being detected in excess of the permissible concentration of alcohol by way of a breath test may result in NSW Police issuing a court attendance notice.

The operator of a vessel includes:
>> Anyone steering or exercising control over the course or direction of a vessel
>> The observer in a ski boat or personal watercraft
>> A person being towed by a vessel
>> A person supervising the operator of a vessel under 16 years of age.

It is also offence for the master of a vessel to allow another person to operate a vessel if they have reason to believe that the person is under the influence of alcohol or any other drug.

LAKE MACQUARIE CRASH
The driver of the 40ft cruiser that hit the bricks in Lake Macquarie was arrested and taken to Belmont Police Station where he allegedly refused to undergo a breath analysis.

He was charged with refuse to submit breath analysis after arrest and granted conditional bail to appear at Belmont Local Court on Monday January 8, 2018.

Commander of Lake Macquarie Local Area Command, Superintendant Daniel Sullivan, has encouraged all boat users to ensure safe boat practices are adhered to at all times, as NSW waters get busy during the holiday period.

“Officers will be out checking all skippers adhere to the speed limits, respect fellow water users, and don’t operate vessels under the influence of drugs or alcohol; just as would be expected out on the roads,” Supt Sullivan said.

This isn't the first time a large flybridge cruiser with a suspected drunk driver has made a spectacular crash ashore.

In April, 2017, a drunk boat driver was three times over the limit when he beached his boat at Forster.

For more boat safety tips.

Photos by Matthew Crisp, Swansea Fishos facebook page.