Boater avoids court under Britain’s new boating safety laws
British police can now allow contrite boaters to go back to school rather than face a hefty fine in courtBritain has recorded its first case under a new way of dealing with people who break the law on the water after a boater sped through a four-knot zone at high speed.
Dorset Police said last week the Hertfordshire man was hit with a community resolution notice, which compels first-time offenders to make good the harm caused by their actions, after he blasted his speed boat through Wareham and Poole Harbour in late August.
He faced charges of travelling at excessive speed and causing a danger to other water users. His boat, Sonic, was later seized by police.
The 30-year-old man, who admitted the offence, must now undertake an approved boat handling course before he can go back out on the water, as well as write an apology to the Environment Agency, which manages the River Frome.
First case
Dorset Police said this was the first case using new options under legislation that makes it an offence for people in command of a vessel to fail to navigate safely.
“In this case we saw substandard navigation skills, excessive speeds and a disregard for other water users,” Dorset Police marine policing team coordinator Roan Doyle said.
“Together, these create a recipe for disaster.
“Nobody was injured, but the risk was very real. What we’ve seen repeatedly is use of boats and other watercraft by individuals who have no training or experience in handling them, nor any awareness of the bylaws and restrictions in place.”
Training courses
Under the new laws, boaters who commit a first-time low-level offence and show remorse for what they’ve done, police will aim to get them to sit training courses at their own cost rather than prosecute.
However, repeat offenders will need to go to court.
The area where the offence was committed has dinghy and canoe hire businesses – one of the reasons for the four-knot speed limit.
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