Queensland Water Police armed for speeding blitz

Redland Bay Water Police have brought out the bug guns, a Pro Laser hand held speed detection device, to combat speeding offences on gazetted speed zones from Brisbane to the Gold Coast.

The Pro Laser handheld speed-detection device comes in response to a small percentage of boaties not doing the right thing in gazetted speeding zones  such as Raby Bay canals, the waters between Cabbage
Tree Point and Horizon Shores, the Gold Coast waterways and canals and
inland dams, just to mention a few.

During the boating high season, Redland Bay Water Police say they receive an increased volume of calls in relation to boats speeding in gazetted zones causing injury to persons and damage to other vessels, pontoons and even in some cases, shoreline damage.

Redland Bay Water Police now have the technology and equipment to combat such speeding offences on the waterways. This instrument comes in the form of a Pro Laser hand held speed detection device.

This device is different from all other Pro Laser devices in the state as it is specially calibrated to measure knots (nautical miles) instead of kilometres, as being used by the land-based Road Policing Command.

What is more unique about this device is that it is actually dual-calibrated for knots and kilometres for use on the waterways and the roads. According to one of the head technicians at the Police Radio Electronics Section, this may be the only speed gun of its type in Australia.

Redland Bay Water Police will continue to police speeding offences in areas that have gazetted speed zones and in non-gazetted speed zones where the maximum speed limit on Queensland waters is 40 knots.

Redland Bay Water Police say if you don’t want to incur fines for speeding then be aware of your surroundings at all times while you on the water and obey the gazetted speed zones, which they say are clearly shown on signs in these areas.

For further information on the gazetted speed zones visit Maritime Safety Queensland's speed limit page and the Gold Coast Waterways Authority page.

Remember, the following restrictions apply throughout Queensland whether signs are present or not.

A speed limit of 6 knots:
>> within 30m of boats anchored, moored to the shore or aground
>> a jetty, wharf, pontoon or boat ramp
>> within 30m of people in the water
>> within 60m of people in the water when operating a personal watercraft
>> in boat harbours and marinas.

Even at slow speeds your boat will create a wash. Look behind at your wash and be aware of the impact this can have on other boats, people in the water or the shore. Travelling at the speed shown on a speed restriction sign does not guarantee you are not creating excessive wash.

When navigating near, in or through a mooring area drive slowly and keep wash to a minimum and keep a lookout for people in the water, small dinghies and trailing ropes.