Harbor Patrol Targets Speeding Personal Craft

Ventura Harbor Patrol officers are stepping up enforcement of laws regulating use of personal watercraft in the harbor, and the fines can be hefty.

Scott Miller, operations manager for the Harbor Patrol, said personal watercraft users can expect penalties exceeding $300 for speeding in the harbor and surrounding areas.

The speed limit in the harbor is 5 mph, and state law prohibits any power vessel from exceeding that speed within 200 feet of popular beaches or within 100 feet of any person in the water.

Break those laws, and you face a hefty fine. In addition, the violation shows up on your driving record, Miller said.

According to the state Department of Boating and Waterways, personal watercraft make up the fastest-growing segment of the boating industry. Forty percent of all boating accidents involve personal watercraft, which make up 18% of all registered boats.

In the past, Ventura Harbor Patrol officers have issued warnings and tried to educate users on the laws regarding the vessels. But the number of complaints about personal watercraft traveling too fast near beaches and swimmers warrants more aggressive enforcement, said Officer Merv Lawson.

“It’s the type of craft that really works well at high speed. And for a neophyte to get on one and try to do the things they do on them is really dangerous,” he said.