Boatie accused of drink driving at Tin Can Bay Marina

A 73-year-old man will face the Gympie court after Water Police allegedly caught him almost three times the limit and without any navigation lights on in Snapper Creek.

A 73-year-old Noosa man police say blew almost three times the limit when he was busted at the “wheel” of a small tinnie in the Tin Can Bay Marina on October 29.

The man was stopped in Snapper Creek by Hervey Bay Water Police officers at a time of “extremely poor” visibility and had no navigation lights on, police allege.

“The visibility at the time was extremely poor and police could only just make out a silhouette on the water travelling towards the police vessel,” a police statement said.

“The driver of the vessel, a 73-year-old Noosa man was subsequently escorted to the Water Police vessel where he underwent further testing, allegedly resulting in a BAC of 0.133 per cent,” it said.

The man will face Gympie Magistrates Court on December 2, charged with mid-range driving driving and contravening the international regulations for preventing collisions at sea - lighting and navigation (failing to have an all round white light available to use when needed).