Distress signals
Distress signals include:
- flares
- pyrotechnical distress signals
- landing flares
- highway fuses
- line carrying rockets
- smoke generators (i.e. items used for signalling, warning, rescue or similar purposes).
Conditions of use for flares
You:
- don’t need a licence to purchase or possess a flare as long as it is not past its use-by date.
- must only use flares in an emergency. Penalties apply if you use them inappropriately.
- must dispose of out-of-date flares as soon as possible using collection bins provided by the Queensland Government.
Disposing of expired flares
Check the expiry dates on the side of each flare and dispose of out-of-date flares as soon as possible.
Out-of-date marine flares can be disposed of in special collection bins provided by Maritime Safety Queensland.
Frequently asked questions
Can I keep my flares when they reach their expiry date?
No. It is illegal to possess the flares past the use-by (expiry) date.
Can I carry an extra flare kit that is only a few months out of expiry?
No. Flares are only authorised for use in Queensland when they are within their use-by date. Once expired, they are unauthorised explosives. It is illegal to possess unauthorised explosives in Queensland.