WATER police conducted a targeted operation at Patterson River Boat Ramp earlier this month.
Water Police Squad, Marine Investigation Unit, Public Order Response Team, Road Policing Drug and Alcohol Section, and the Dog Squad converged at the boat ramp on 21 February. They ended up issuing fines to seven people, allegedly catching three unlicensed boaties.
One vehicle driver tested at the boat ramp allegedly had an alcohol content reading of 0.158. Among the fines awarded were two for operating a vessel despite being unlicenced, and one for an unlicenced vessel operator entering the boat ramp area in a vehicle. Two infringements were issued for blocking a driveway, one for a driver failing to obey a red light, and one for a P1 level probationary driver with more than one peer passenger.
Victoria Police acting sergeant water police squad, Mark Bates, said “highly visible efforts like these are all about reminding boat and jet ski operators that police are out to keep people safe.”
“Be it making sure you’ve got the right safety equipment or stopping people operating a car or boat while impaired, police are determined to prevent death and serious injury on our waterways,” Bates said. “As we approach the busy Easter period, we will continue to have a presence across the bay and inland.
“Not only will we be conducting proactive patrols on the water but blitzing boat ramps to conduct breath tests, licence checks and vessel inspections. The last thing we want to see is a fun day out on the water ending in tragedy.”
First published in the Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News – 3 March 2026