Boaters ordered to pay £4,344 for flouting licence law

Five boaters caught using their vessels on the River Thames without valid licences have been convicted by magistrates.

The separate cases were heard at Staines Magistrates’ Court yesterday (Wednesday 12 January) and Kingston Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday 11 January. All the offences were contrary to the Environment Agency (Inland Waterways) Order 2010 and the Transport and Works Act 1992.

John Reid, 46, of Denmark Road, Kingston, was fined £150, ordered to pay compensation of £156, £85 costs and a £15 victim surcharge by Kingston Magistrates’ Court. Environment Agency enforcement officers found the boat “Pokerdot” on Barge Walk, Teddington, Kingston, without a valid licence around 1.45pm on June 16 2010.

Mr Reid was cautioned and although he said he would apply for the licence in the following two weeks, no such application was received by the Environment Agency.

In the second case, Andrew Morrison, 52, of Eden Street, Kingston, was fined £200 by the same court, ordered to pay compensation of £845, £85 costs and a £15 victim surcharge. Enforcement officers found the boat “Jacaranda V” above the Teddington Lock lay-by without a valid licence around 3.50pm on June 16 2010.

He was cautioned but said he had applied for a licence recently. However, the Environment Agency is unable to complete the licence application without a current boat safety certificate. This expired in March 2010.

In the final case at Kingston Magistrates’ Court, Nicholas Coulson, 39, of Hilliers Road, Kingston, was fined £800, ordered to pay compensation of £845, £85 costs and a £15 victim surcharge. Officers found the boat “Glow” at the Finger Stages, Charter Quay, Kingston, without a valid licence around 11.05am on July 7 2010.

Mr Coulson was cautioned and said he did not have enough money to buy a licence. The Environment Agency has not received a licence application from him.

At Staines Magistrates’ Court Robert Neely, 55, of Garrett Close, Walton-on-Thames, was ordered to pay compensation of £532 and £60 costs. Officers found the boat “Susanne” upstream of the Bells of Ouseley at Wraysbury, Berkshire, without a valid licence around 11.35am on June 29 2010.

He was cautioned but said he was told by someone at a lock that he did not need a licence as he was working on his boat. The Environment Agency has not received an application from him.

Finally Max Van Der Sloot, 25, of Bellview Close, Staines, was fined £200, ordered to pay compensation of £156, £85 costs and a £15 victim surcharge by the same court. Enforcement officers found the boat “Lollipop” at Molesey Lock, East Molesey, without a valid licence around 6.30pm on July 17 2010.

A lock keeper cautioned Mr Van Der Sloot and but he said it was not registered as he was having work done on it at Clark’s boatyard. Although he called the Environment Agency with a view to registering the boat, no monies have been received.

Any boat using the non-tidal River Thames must be registered and licensed with the Environment Agency. This includes motor cruisers, sailing cruisers, narrowboats, houseboats, canoes and rowing boats. Anyone found using a boat without displaying a licence plate (similar to a vehicle tax disc) will be cautioned for a criminal offence and may be prosecuted.

Andrew Graham, an Environment Agency Waterways Operations Manager, said: “The income we raise from boat registration is very important for the community and the environment.

“It contributes directly to improving and maintaining waterway structures such as locks and lay-bys, as well as providing facilities like visitor moorings, water points, rubbish and sewage disposal and electric boat charging hook-ups.

“It is vital that we continue to invest in our waterways to create and maintain a good quality environment that people can enjoy for years to come.”

Ends

Notes for Editors:

All the offences were contrary to the Environment Agency (Inland Waterways) Order 2010, article 18(1)(a) of the Environment Agency (Inland Waterways) Order 2010 and the Transport and Works Act 1992.

The Environment Agency is the Navigation Authority for the River Thames between Cricklade (Wiltshire) & Teddington (Middlesex). It monitors all craft that pass through locks where its staff are on duty and patrol the length of each waterway. Boaters using EA waterways need to register and display a valid registration certificate and will be prosecuted if they fail to do so.

Responsibility remains with the registered owner until the Environment Agency is told otherwise.

Boat licences are valid from 1st January to 31st December. Application forms can be obtained from Environment Agency, Po Box 214, Reading, Berkshire, RG1 8DQ. You can also call 0118 953 5650 or go to www.visitthames.co.uk

from what I hear on the river bank, most of these fines remain unpaid, those fined are mostly unable to pay, move around on their boats and the council or its bailiffs are frightened of making them homeless

what we wanna know is when are the EA gonna check insurance details now the law has changed
in order to get insurance for their boats, they need a safety certificate
if boats aren't complying I think they get impounded

we're asking the EA for clarification

james page wrote:

from what I hear on the river bank, most of these fines remain unpaid, those fined are mostly unable to pay, move around on their boats and the council or its bailiffs are frightened of making them homeless

what we wanna know is when are the EA gonna check insurance details now the law has changed
in order to get insurance for their boats, they need a safety certificate
if boats aren't complying I think they get impounded

we're asking the EA for clarification

James really hope the boats do get impounded as we pay Circa £900 for our Narrow boat licence and fed up of certain river gypsy types giving the rest of the NB comunity a bad name by flouting rules and paying sod all in the process .
They are going to end up with major egg on the face [the EA] if they dont enforce as lots of these boats won`t get a boat safety without lots of dosh being spent on them and therefore no licence or insurance ,mainly this type that massively overstay /moor where they shouldnt and a wake up call to them would be good as i have heard the same thing about fines leviied against them.....Rant over Steve.

we dont mind a rant buddy
it's the same old few, ruining it for the many, just like angling on the thames
we've sent out our enquiries, so we'll see who and when responds
in the meantime we're asking the EA to issue them with notices warning of the changes

a period of grace is being given to all boaters to comply, when that elapses we'll start stamping our feet