Court for unlicenced boater

Published: Thursday, 22 July 2010

A BOATER using an unlicenced boat on the Thames has been taken to Court which cost him £350.

Mark Smith had been warned by lock keepers on the river for having an unlicenced boat, but had ignored the warnings, but was caught by Environment Agency officials when his boat Blues III was seen moored at Reading.

Live-aboard

Checks revealed his 27ft live-aboard narrowboat was unregistered although he had been using the river for two months.

He appeared before Reading Magistrates' Court and admitted a charge of navigating his boat without a valid licence. He was ordered to pay compensation in respect of the full year's licence fee of £242.56. He was also fined £50 and ordered to pay £60 in costs to the EA along with a victim surcharge of £15.

Waterways officer Matt Strange reported:

"Since coming on to the non-tidal Thames Mr Smith had been given regular reminders of the need to register his boat and was also given advice on how to do so. We are pleased with the fines handed out."