DoT warns skippers of crackdown on reckless behaviour this Easter as jet ski offences rise 51 per cent

With a busy Easter expected on the water, the Department of Transport has issued a fresh warning to skippers that reckless behaviour won’t be tolerated.

The notice comes after the total number of infringements issued to people using personal watercraft — jet skis — increased by 51 per cent this past summer, jumping from 513 in 2023-24 to 775 in 2024-25.

Among the offences were a 65 per cent jump in speeding and a 90 per cent surge in reckless navigation, freestyling, and failure to keep an adequate lookout.

The increases came despite the launch of a targeted safety campaign titled Cool Your Jets by the DoT last December.

With personal watercraft 5.4 times more likely to attract an offence over summer than another registered vessel, DoT waterways safety director Graeme Meinema warned PWC operators to be on their best behaviour, especially at inland dams, the Swan River, Canning Riverpark and around Rottnest Island this Easter.

“All PWC operators need to abide by the rules and remember everyone needs to wear a life jacket,” Mr Meinema said.

“We are working closely with other authorities at a number of busy locations, including Logue Brook Dam, to address the unsafe on-water behaviour that puts the lives of other waterway users at risk.”

As the extended Easter break is one of the busiest times on the State’s waterways, Mr Meinema urged skippers heading offshore to stay alert to changing swell conditions and exercise extra caution near reefs.

“Most importantly, skippers need to be aware of changing weather conditions and respond appropriately,” he said.

“Skippers heading offshore need to be mindful of the changing swell conditions at Easter and be particularly careful when operating near reefs.

“There are countless examples of smaller vessels operating between Two Rocks and Geraldton being swamped or flipped while fishing on the reef lines between one and three nautical miles from shore.”

Sadly, there have been two deaths involving personal watercraft in WA over the past eight years, along with 59 deaths involving other boats.

Reckless navigation on a jet ski in WA can see you hit with a $300 fine, a 24-month licence disqualification, or up to five years in jail for your first offence.

Other jet ski offence penalties include a $200 fine for not wearing a life jacket or operating without a licence, and a $160 fine for exceeding the speed limit by more than five knots but less than 10 knots.