Jet-ski riders caught speeding 30 meters off Lastovo coast, fined 900 euros
Officers filmed the offenders from their boat and issued and collected the fine on the spot. Index.hr also reports on an earlier case of a drunk jet-ski driver near Šipan.
Officers filmed the offenders from their boat and issued and collected the fine on the spot. Index.hr also reports on an earlier case of a drunk jet-ski driver near Šipan.
The Port Authority of Lastovo has caught another case of reckless driving at sea. This time, officers filmed two people on a jet-ski speeding just 30 meters from the shore, which is ten times less than the legally prescribed minimum distance.
In the video footage published by Index.hr, the moment when the Port Authority boat catches up with the jet-ski is visible. Due to the violation, the driver was immediately issued a fine of 900 euros, which was collected on the spot.
According to the Maritime Navigation Safety Ordinance, speeding of motor and jet-powered vessels, including jet-skis, is allowed only at a distance greater than 300 meters from the shore. An additional restriction applies when approaching the shore for docking or departing, vessels must then move in the shortest possible route and at a speed of up to five knots.
In the 300-meter zone from the shore and swimming areas, speeding is strictly prohibited, and it is also forbidden to approach buoys marking areas reserved for swimmers. Under the law, fines for violating these rules range from 400 to 6,600 euros, depending on the severity and circumstances of the violation. Although fines are legally high, maritime police and port authorities typically issue fines at the minimum of 400 euros under normal circumstances.
Index.hr also recalls the case from last week when police in Šipanska Luka on the island of Šipan stopped a jet-ski for illegal speeding. The inspection revealed that the vessel was operated by a 52-year-old Croatian citizen who had 1.73 per mille of alcohol in his blood.
Due to the risk that he might continue committing violations, the 52-year-old was held in police premises until he sobered up. He was also informed that fines would be issued for violating the provisions of the Maritime Code. Following this incident, the police once again appealed to all boaters to respect the ban on operating vessels under the influence of alcohol, the rules on safe speeding, and the prescribed distance from the shore.
