Yachtie Geoff May fined $1500 for not wearing a life jacket while rowing in Middle Harbour
A northern beaches businessman has been hit with what is believed to be a record fine for not using a life jacket after he told boating officers he didn’t feel ‘comfortable’ wearing one.
A northern beaches yachtie has been hit with what is believed to be the toughest-ever fine for not wearing a life jacket to send a message after a series of water tragedies.
Businessman Geoff May, 68, was fined $1500 at Manly Local Court after he told boating officers with Roads and Maritime Services: “I don’t feel comfortable wearing a life jacket.”
He was caught rowing out to his yacht Whalesong on Middle Harbour and could have accepted a $250 on-the-spot fine but instead chose to go to court to fight it.
RMS prosecutor Charlene Searson asked the court on Tuesday to impose a sentence that would be a “general deterrent” after two men, who were not wearing life jackets, died after falling from a jetski on the Hawkesbury River on February 17.
The men aged 49 and 50 were with a group of friends and could not swim.
Their lives may have been saved with life jackets, Ms Searson told the court.
“A general deterrent is needed (to make people wear life jackets),” she said.
Magistrate Chris Longley said: “I agree.”
May, of Seaforth, did not attend court and was fined $1500 in his absence despite it being his first offence. He was given 28 days to pay. The maximum fine is $5500.
RMS has a “zero tolerance” approach to life jacket offences, the court was told.
A tendered statement of facts revealed two RMS boating officers spotted May rowing out to his yacht in Pearl Bay on Wednesday, August 1, last year as they were checking a cancelled mooring.
One of the officers told him that the most dangerous time was when he was getting out of the tender and onto the moored vessel and that one man had died in those exact circumstances recently in the Lane Cove River.
“Are you aware that in a vessel like this, being under 4.8 metres in length, you are required to wear a life jacket at all times when alone?” the boating officer asked May, the statement of facts said.
May replied: “Nah during the week you don’t have to.”
The officer said: “You must at all times including during the week.”
May replied: “I don’t agree with that and don’t feel comfortable wearing a life jacket.”
May later told Revenue NSW he intended to fight the $250 fine and had been issued a Court Attendance Notice to appear on Tuesday. He could not be contacted for comment.
An RMS spokesman said on Friday the $1500 fine “is believed to be the largest life jacket fine in NSW”.
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