Penalties for boating offences
Know the penalties that apply to the most common boating offences in NSW.
The information given on this page is a guide only and is subject to change at any time without notice.
Receiving a penalty notice
If you commit an offence such as speeding on NSW waterways, the police or Transport for NSW may issue you a penalty notice.
You must pay the penalty within the time shown on the notice.
See Offences for information on different types of offences such as drink driving, negligent behaviour and speeding.
As a vessel owner, you’re responsible for ensuring your vessel is operated safely and correctly, even when you’re not using it.
Vessel impounding or forfeiture
There are penalties if someone uses a vessel in an anti-social way. Anti-social behaviour includes operating a vessel in a way that menaces another person, is reckless or dangerous.
If someone uses a vessel in an ‘anti-social manner’:
- Authorised officers may seize and impound it for three months.
- The owner may have to pay the costs of seizing and storing the vessel before we can return it.
- The vessel may be impounded regardless of who was operating it at the time of the offence.
If the vessel is used in an 'anti-social manner' for a second or subsequent time in a 5-year period, authorised officers may seize and forfeit the vessel from the owner.
This can be done even if the two offences were committed by different operators and neither was the owner.
Search for penalties and offences
The tables below list the most common offences and the penalty notice amount to be paid for these offences. Most of these penalties are the on-the-spot penalties. If a court deals with the offence, the penalties can be much higher. See Offences for more information.
| Offence | Penalty notice amount |
|---|---|
| Disobeying speed sign by <10 knots (vessel) | $100 |
| Disobeying speed sign by <10 knots (PWC) | $250 |
| Disobeying speed sign by >10 knots (vessel) | $250 |
| Disobeying speed sign by >10 knots (PWC) | $500 |
| Disobeying ‘no wash’ sign | $500 |
| Disobeying other Transport signs | $250 |
| Breaching part B or C of the collision regulations (eg. failure to keep proper lookout, maintain safe speed or display navigation lights) | $250 |
| Offence | Penalty notice amount |
|---|---|
| Operating a vessel negligently | $500 (recreational) $1500 (commercial vessel) |
| Operating a vessel recklessly or in a speed or manner that is dangerous | Court attendance notice only |
| Operating a vessel in a manner that menaces another person | Court attendance notice only |
| Interference with or obstruction of a navigation aid | $500 |
| Bow riding | $250 |
| Causing excessive wash (other than in no wash zone) | $250 |
| Breaching ‘distance off’ provisions (vessel) – including towing | $100 |
| Breaching ‘distance off’ provisions (PWC) – including towing | $250 |
| Overloading a vessel (weight) | $500 |
| Overloading a vessel (number of persons) | $500 |
| Driving PWC irregularly (in restriction zone or within 200m of dwelling) | $250 |
| Obstructing a channel or fairway | $25 |
| Offence | Penalty notice amount |
|---|---|
| Breaching a condition of licence | $100 |
| Operate an unregistered vessel | $500 |
| Driving a vessel (not PWC)>10 knots unlicensed | $250 |
| Driving a PWC unlicensed (1st offence) | $500 + disqualification of any boat licence |
| Drive a PWC unlicensed (2nd or subsequent offence) | $750 + disqualification of any boat licence |
| Driving while disqualified | Court attendance notice only |
| Failure to notify Transport for NSW of vessel/PWC transfer | $100 |
| Not displaying proper registration number | $100 |
| Offence | Penalty notice amount |
|---|---|
| Failure to produce licence on demand | $500 |
| Refusal to allow officer to stop or board vessel when directed | $500 |
| Failure to stop vessel when patrol vessel lights activated | $500 |
| Refusal to identify self | $500 |
| Failure to report accident to Maritime | $500 |
| Not complying with safety direction | $500 |
| Offence | Penalty notice amount |
|---|---|
| Towing a person at night | $250 |
| Towing a person without proper observer (vessel) | $250 |
| Towing more than three people at a time | $250 |
| Towing a person without a proper observer (PWC) | $500 |
| Offence | Penalty notice amount |
|---|---|
| Failure to carry one item of essential safety equipment (other than a lifejacket) | $100 |
| Failure to carry a lifejacket or more than one item of essential safety equipment | $250 |
| One item of safety equipment expired or in poor condition (other than a lifejacket) | $100 |
| More than one item of safety equipment or a lifejacket expired or in poor condition | $250 |
| Not wearing a lifejacket when crossing bar (or master to ensure) | $250 |
| Not wearing a lifejacket on PWC | $250 |
| Not wearing a lifejacket in other required circumstances of heightened risk (eg night, open or alpine waters, children, boating alone) | $250 |
| Letting off flares when not in distress | $500 |
| Offence | Penalty notice amount |
|---|---|
| Offensive noise (improper use of siren/bell/whistle) | 300 (individual) $600 (corporation) |
| Offensive noise (sound system on vessel) | $300 (individual) $600 (corporation) |
| Offensive noise (engine noise) | $300 (individual) $600 (corporation) |
| Breach of mooring licence condition (eg not servicing apparatus) | $500 + possible cancellation of licence |
| Offence | Penalty notice amount |
|---|---|
| Pollution of waters (oil) | $5000 |
| Pollution of waters (sewage) | $1500 (individual) $5000 (corporation) |
| Pollution of waters (garbage) | $1500 (individual) $5000 (corporation) |