Police were disappointed by a few individuals who chose to head out on the River Murray over the weekend without the proper safety gear despite the recent announcement of Operation River Safe.
South Australia Police (SAPOL) launched Operation River Safe on Friday vowing to have more police and marine officers patrolling the River Murray as summer activity increases.
Disappointingly, Water Operations Unit issued four expiations notices for breaches of boating safety regulations, and two jet ski operators were issued fines for being unlicenced. Of note, one of those unlicenced jet ski operators was a 14-year-old boy who had a 15-year-old pillion passenger.
A 39-year-old man from Elizabeth East who was operating a boat allegedly returned a positive result to cannabis and is expected to face further legal consequences upon the completion of forensic testing.
Police are imploring all vessel operators and river users to respect the river and to abide by all rules and regulations to ensure your safety as well as the safety of other river users.
Operation River Safe will run throughout summer alongside the Respect the River – Make the Right Call campaign.
For information on life jacket regulations and safe boating practices, visit marinesafety.sa.gov.au. Report unsafe behaviour on the water to SAPOL on 131 444.
