Vic: Water police patrol holiday hotspots after woman's death
05 Jan 2009 6:35 AM
MELBOURNE, Jan 5 AAP - Water police will patrol popular Victorian holiday destinations in coming weeks for recreational boaters flouting safety regulations, after the death of an 18-year-old woman at Lake Eildon last week.
Police will scour areas including Queenscliff, Geelong, Lake Eildon, East Gippsland, Wilson's Promontory and Western Port Bay, checking safety equipment and boat licences and breath-testing vessel operators.
January is the busiest month for accidents on the water, with police responding to more than 240 incidents on the state's waterways last January.
Water Police Acting Senior Sergeant Greg Barras said boaters were subject to the same alcohol laws as motorists.
"Getting behind the wheel of a vessel when you are affected by alcohol is just as irresponsible as getting behind the wheel of a car after drinking," he said in a statement on Monday.
A blood alcohol limit of zero applies to those under 21 and their supervisor, and a .05 blood alcohol limit applies to those over 21.
"People do not think that the same drink driving laws which affect motorists apply to boaters," he said.
"They see a clear stretch of water and do not see that it poses the same risk as a busy road when in fact the dangers are often hidden under the surface of the water," Sen Sgt Barras said.
"Other factors such as dehydration, fatigue and constant motion combined with alcohol could greatly affect a driver's coordination and reaction time, which could lead to an even greater risk of having an accident.
"The message we want to put out is simple, don't drink alcohol and then try to operate a boat."
Police will also issue $142 fines to those caught not wearing life jackets.
Sen Sgt Barras urged boaters to check their vessel before heading out, as well as weather and safety reports.
Casey Hardman, 18, died after she was flung from a speedboat driven by a 16-year-old male when it collided with a tree on Lake Eildon on December 28.
