I’ll watch to see if jet ski law makes a difference despite its basic flaws
ON March the 31st the new law on jetskis came into force. Herald readers will know that I have been campaigning on this matter for years. In 2020 I brought in a Bill to Parliament which would have set up a system of training, testing of competence and licencing for jet ski drivers.
This was because (to most people’s surprise) there is no control at all of who can use these powerful machines. No compulsory training. No testing of competence. No licensing. Not even a minimum age limit for drivers.
I should say that various bodies including the Royal Yachting Association provide high quality training. But this is voluntary. Responsible jet ski users will take it. But I think that, as ever, the irresponsible minority who really require training will believe they don’t need to bother!
The law brings in a new offence of dangerous or irresponsible use. This carries a penalty of up to two years in prison and/or an unlimited fine. However, it does not train, test, or licence users. I think that this is a basic flaw. Irresponsible users will still be free to endanger others, disturb wildlife or just generally create a nuisance. Just from now on someone will have to catch them at it.
So, I suppose it will be up to the police, local councils, harbour authorities and the like to make sure that people follow the law – as if they haven’t got plenty of other things to be getting on with already. But I don’t expect that the North Wales Police or the Caernarfon Harbour Trust will be able to set up a new force mounted on a fleet of expensive jetskis to patrol the shores of Menai.
This will mean inevitably that only the very bad cases will be prosecuted. Only where some one has been injured, or worse, or where there is evidence from the shore of illegal behaviour. During my campaign I have seen photos and videos sent to me from all parts of the UK of irresponsible jetski drivers intimidating sailors and paddle boarders, speeding close to shore where there are children swimming, roaring into nature reserves and crashing into flocks of sea birds.
So, on balance, I think we have had a partial success.
But I will be watching how the law is enforced and will push again for change if, as I expect, it will mainly be a dead letter.
By the way, a very few people see all this in another light.
Someone emailed me to say that I had ‘crusaded to remove any semblance of exhilaration or fun anyone else can have.’ I can only guess therefore that this person’s idea of exhilaration or fun is intimidating others water users, crashing into wildlife etc. If so, I hope that they will shortly be making an appearance before the court. ***************************** Today (Monday) there are huge queues of buses at Dover waiting for a place on the ferry. Children going on school trips during Easter and older people on coach tours are being delayed for up to 16 hours. The MP for Dover condemns traffic chaos.
If you believe the newspapers and the BBC, this is because of bad weather or heavy traffic. The newspapers, of course, also blame the French.
If however you believe the Chief Executive of Dover Harbour and travel writers who know about these things it’s because of Brexit. For, as had been explained on Sky news and other tv and radio channels except the BBC, we are now outside the EU And every passport must be checked individually.
The Westminster government insisted on this hard border when it brought an end to free movement of people.
But it works both ways – on the way out as well as on the way into the UK.
The Home Secretary says it is not fair to blame Brexit - but offers no evidence. The BBC finds it impossible even to use the B ***** word.
Even S4C news, which is normally free from the usual BBC paranoia about upsetting the Tory government, fails to mention the real cause of the trouble. And the raging Dover MP is a keen Brexiteer.
All have shot their credibility though the Home Secretary by now really has little credibility to lose.
And I’m told things can only get worse. For as part of Boris Johnson’s “oven ready deal”, by the end of the year all passengers will have to have their photos and fingerprints checked as well.
Oh, and by the way, the French did offer to provide extra customs facilities at Dover.
Our Westminster government refused.