EA prosecutes more boaters

FIVE more boaters have ended up with criminal records after being successfully prosecuted by the Environmental Agency for having no boat licences.

This time it is boaters on the Nene and River Great Ouse that were prosecuted, receiving fines of up to £350 plus costs of £115.

No licence

Two boaters on the Nene, William Hamill and Ken Lewis were each fined £175 for having unlicenced boats on the river. Three boaters were discovered without a valid licence on the River Great Ouse and fined £350 plus costs.

Environment Agency Team Leader Candy Reed warned:

"Failing to register a boat just does not pay. People risk being prosecuted and fined up to £1,000 for each offence, and ending up with a criminal record."

All boats on Environment Agency waterways, whether on the  river, private moorings, marinas or even backwaters, must be  licenced, with it clearly displayed.

Insurance and Boat Safety Certificate

As previously reported in narrowboatworld from the 1st April of this year, all powered boats on Environmental Agency waters come in line with those on British Waterways waters, in that they must have valid third party insurance, to a minimum value of one million pounds, as well as a valid Boat Safety Scheme Certificate, before a licence can be obtained.