Jet skier up for assault

GOLD Coast water cops cracking down on rule-breaking boaties and jet skiers have stumbled upon a man wanted for a serious assault.

Police pulled over a jet skier for speeding near Labrador at 8am on Sunday and discovered during a background check he was wanted for an assault.

Water police boss Acting Senior Sergeant Mitch Gray said on top of arresting him for the alleged violent incident – which he could not elaborate on – he was also fined for speeding and believed to have been unlicensed.

“The guys did some checks after they pulled him over on the water and found he was wanted for the outstanding assault,” Acting Snr Sgt Gray said.

The man’s jet ski speeding fine was one of 21 infringement notices dished out during the first two days of Operation Whitewater, targeting tinnie hoons, boat thieves and drugdriving on water.

Infringement notice fines ranged from $250 at the low end to $850 for illegal trailers.

The 21 fines comprised of 11 for speeding, three for failing to carry required safety equipment, five for being unregistered, one for jet skiing freestyle within 30m of another jet ski, two for unregistered trailers and one for being unlicensed.

A further three were pinged for positive drug tests.

Water police also recovered several tinnies stolen by juveniles from the pontoons out the back of waterfront homes.

Drug-affected operators of vessels are a specific focus of Operation Whitewater which is scheduled to continue through the busy Christmas and New Year period and for a month after.