A man was stunned when cops pulled him over for paddling and told him he risked a £1,000 fine for not having a river licence.
Ross Mathieson, 35, was out on the River Medway in Maidstone, Kent, with a friend on July 3 when he claims they were approached by police.
of Environment Agency and Kent Police, who were patrolling together, told him he needed a river license to use his paddle board to avoid being slapped with the hefty fine.
A £65 waterway or river license is required if you wish to canoe, kayak or stand up on most rivers and canals in England AND Walesaccording to PaddleUK.
Failure to have this may result in a fine or being asked to leave the water.
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Video footage shows officers on a boat with Ross on his paddleboard, with the caption “we pulled over for unlicensed riding”, which has since gone viral with more than 607,000 views.
In the clip, you can hear Ross asking the cops – ‘You need a river license to paddle board? This is madness.’
Having owned his paddle board for two years and never been banned, the car recovery business owner believes the license is ‘ridiculous’.
Ross says he will ‘absolutely not buy a river license and ‘take his chances” but hopes to spread awareness as the fine can be ‘devastating’ for people.
Ross, from Rochester, Kent, said: ‘It was disbelief when they first approached me. I thought, ‘Why are they approaching us on billboards and am I hearing that right, we need a license?
“He said there’s a £1,000 fine, and I said, ‘Are you going to fine us then?’ The officer said, ‘No, you’ve got to be caught a couple of times.’
Next thing they want £65 a year for a river licence. It’s so crazy, I just think it’s hilarious. I think it’s ridiculous that you need a license. Where do you draw the line? If I show up with a rubber ring, is that also a vessel that needs a license?’
License money goes to waterway authorities, helping to clean and maintain waterways and repair flood damage.
Ross said: “I’m absolutely not going to buy a river licence, not a chance. I’m going to take my chances. I use the paddling table regularly but most people use it once a year.
Will they pay £65 or go through the paperwork to do a day pass? Just enjoy it. For some people, that fine can be devastating. I’m lucky enough to sit there and laugh with him.’
An Environment Agency spokesman said: “We manage and maintain more than 600 miles of inland waterways across England, keeping them open and safe for thousands of boaters and others to enjoy.
“Registration fees for boats, canoes, kayaks, dinghies and paddleboards contribute a reasonable proportion to the cost of the navigational services and facilities we provide to river users.”
Kent Police confirmed they were patrolling the area with the Environment Agency on July 3.
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