Jet ski hoons crackdown on Sydney waterways following spate of bad behaviour

More than 900 checks carried out as water cops take aim at jet ski hoons.

Cops took to the water over the weekend with a crackdown on jet ski hoons flouting the rules around Sydney’s beaches resulting in almost 100 official warnings and 50 penalty notices being handed down.

More than 900 vessel safety checks were also carried out as part of Operation Ride Smart, with NSW Maritime and NSW Police Marine Area Command taking action following a spate of jet ski-related incidents over the last year which have included eight people being hospitalised, as well as an alleged assault on a NSW Maritime officer which remains before the courts.

A jet ski driver swabbing his tongue in a random drug test by police on the Georges River at Sans Souci on the weekend. The tests came back clear and the driver was doing everything correctly and left to go about his day. Picture: Max Mason-Hubers

Licensing and registration breaches were the main offence pinpointed over the weekend, accounting for more than 30 per cent of offences, with Botany Bay and the Georges River the hottest spots for offences, with more than 80 per cent logged there.

NSW Maritime executive director Mark Hutchings said over the last year boating safety officers responded to more than 270 jetski complaints, including incidents of speeding, riding close to swimmers, damaging shorelines and harassment of wildlife including whales and dolphins.

A jet ski rider showing his license and registration to NSW Maritime principal manager Shane Davey after he was stopped for a document check. The driver was doing everything correctly and left to go about his day. Picture: Max Mason-Hubers

“It’s reckless and disrespectful and inevitably it’s going to result in more people being seriously hurt or worse,” Mr Hutchings said.

Transport Minister Jo Haylen said it was “unacceptable” for maritime teams to be threatened while doing their job.

 “Disgusting abuse or physical violence against our frontline staff will not be tolerated. Vile behaviour like hooning, aggression and intimidation has no place on NSW waterways,” she said.