We have had a nightmare here in SA with a Transport SA dude booking guys at a wavesailing spot for not wearing PFD's. He camps on our Seabreeze forum to tell when we are going to be there. $160 fine! Apparently there was a similar law in Vic and someone managed to get it changed.
Dont want the surf nazi to win... There are more details in www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Windsurfing/South-Australia/Expert-Wavesailor-gets-booked-for-not-wearing-PFD/?SearchTerms=pfd for those who like detail.
Would appreciate any help we can get on this (approaches to getting the law changed, not ideas on what to do with this guy if a group of us got hold of him in a no consequence environment - we have already got a list for that)...
Wow that's pretty rough if he actually got fined.
I probably would have told them my name was Robby Naish and they could send the fine to my house in Hawaii and I will fix it up straight away for them.. 
Ahh as far as I am aware the law changed for windsurf/kitesurfing (and I was sure it is a Nation wide law?) is that within 400m of the beach if you're wearing at least a 2mm wettie/rashie then no PFD is needed. If you go out side of that then yes you need a Type 1 PFD.
We did have an issue with a race in Melb were we go out 9km and the cops waited for the start of that, then came in and threatened to fine people!
wearing a lifejacket in the surf would be a *** idea if you ask me! getting pinned under your sail when you need to be free to swim out etc....
Here is the NSW version:
so only if your more than 400m offshore do you need a PFD
www.rms.nsw.gov.au/maritime/index.html
You would be pretty unlucky to get fined.... are they going to measure the distance you went out to sea?
This is not what you want to read but...
I wave sail with a PDF, have done so since a mosquito killed my fitness.
From personal experience and I spend to much time floundering in the impact zone being a bit of a muppet, the paranoia about them in the surf is unfounded.
Whoever came up with these laws is probably the same nob that wrote the Qantas "we don't take windsurf gear because your mast is 370cm long" rule. They obviously think Windsurfing equals the 1984 type sport.
In reality most dangerous situations in Windsurfing today arise from being pinned under your gear, being held down by a wave or getting knocked in the head by your mast or board.
The only thing that helps you in those situations is being able to swim free or in the case of being knocked in the melon a helmet. Maybe if they introduced helmet laws I would have said "ok, I can understand where you are coming from".
Maybe now that Windsurfing is no longer an Olympic sailing sport we can move on and have it removed from the list of regulated sports.
I have not heard of any enforcement in NSW. For Sydney, Botany Bay seems like a likely place for issue of fines in summer as the Police or more likely Maritime are sometimes there to monitor jetskis.
Always worth knowing someone else's details (name/DOB/address) as Council or equivalent do not have power to request identification so rely on the assumption you give correct details or get your car rego and later check with the Police if you were being honest.
Like any fine, contest it if you feel it is unfair or incorrectly issued.
I suppose the theory is to encourage water safety.
When I get asked where my flotation device is, I just flex my guns and pecs, and the inspector just notes down that I have Type 1, 2 and 3 PFD all in one.
I used to wear a PDF but found that since they've gotten into a spat with Apple over the whole Flash thing, the reader wasn't nearly as stable as it used to be.
Deflate it. Appreciate your responses. We analysed the actual legislation and the 400m rule just allows us to have lower levels of pdf err pfd's.. Helpful to know there is different legislation in other states. We might need to collate the relevant sections as part of our case. Any other links like the NSW one referenced are appreciated!
Hi Geoff,
There is a thread already on this:
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Windsurfing/General/PFD-legislation-difference-between-states/
NSW info is new, thanks Russell
i use to wear a pfd, but quickly found that it was dangerous. i got beaten up in the carpark twice because of it...
i think i will wear the $160 fine thankyou, that should provide amply floatation, reduce my liquidity and lighten my hip pocket...
