Security on 30-A Beaches

I dont like it...but I always use public beach accesses so I am never bothered by the "private police"

LAME:angry:

If it's a "private" beach they can pay the "public" back for the restoration and the sheriff's patrols!

We have had a HUGE problem with that in Destin. In fact, homeowners sued the city to try to prevent the beach renourishment project, which that God will be finished within the week. These home owners called the sheriff on a daily basis, hired beach service companies to run off "unwanted" beach goers and in one section, Holiday Isle, they refused to let the beach cleaning equipment cross "their" property to maintain the rest of the beach.

Signs, fences, etc.

They are using surveys from years ago when we had a much larger beach, etc.

The case filed by the Save Our Beaches, SOB, their acronym, not mine, has been heard by the Supreme Court, but has not been ruled on.

My understanding this case will set be the basis for beach ownership across the state.

A few months back, I posted a link where you could watch the hearing. I will post the decision when it is made. No one knows how long this will take.

For the person who was told to sit in the wet water, I believe the rule is 6 feet from the waterline is public.

The "private" section of the beach is supposedly from the high tide line back toward the dunes. Unfortunately, few people know this. They are just looking for a spot to enjoy themselves.

I have a friend who owns a unit on Sand Trap Road at Miramar. The A-hole who lives next door waits for people to get completely set up in front of his house, then walks out and tells them they are on private property.

If you think about it, there is nowhere you can go and NOT be on private property unless you are in a state park.

IMO, this is a pretty major issue with no easy answers.

We need a SOWAL Rosa Parks.😀

I find it a very sad commentary on their lives/personalities that these people have to be so territorial and mean-spirited. I could see asking people to leave an area clear for a special event like a wedding, or even asking people who are being obnoxious to leave if they are somehow interfering w/ your enjoyment, but if you're not actively using the beach, why can't others enjoy it?

For those urgently needing to stake their territory, the easiest way is to put out a chair or towel and plop yourself down. I don't select a beach spot that is already occupied ;-).

This kind of behavior makes me want to channel the most obnoxious beach goer ever and go park myself on the "public" portion!

The "private" section of the beach is supposedly from the high tide line back toward the dunes. Unfortunately, few people know this. They are just looking for a spot to enjoy themselves.

I have a friend who owns a unit on Sand Trap Road at Miramar. The A-hole who lives next door waits for people to get completely set up in front of his house, then walks out and tells them they are on private property.

If you think about it, there is nowhere you can go and NOT be on private property unless you are in a state park.

IMO, this is a pretty major issue with no easy answers.

Very interesting topic. Not that I would consider doing this, especially if obviously in front of a private residence, but what would be the ramifications if in the situation above, somebody were to politely refuse to leave. Police? Jail? :idontno:

Very interesting topic. Not that I would consider doing this, especially if obviously in front of a private residence, but what would be the ramifications if in the situation above, somebody were to politely refuse to leave. Police? Jail? :idontno:

There have been similar situations involving the guy I referenced above. Each time, he has called the sheriff and the people on the beach have been asked to move.

Outside of state parks, the county also owns some property at their beach accesses that is publc also. More land is owned at regional beach accesses and they have parking also. All county-maintained beach and bay accesses can be found at: http://www.protectwaltoncountybeaches.com/accesses.asp

The addresses are correct, but the map is dated and doesn't include all accesses.

As for what could happen, the sherrif deputies could cite you for tresspassing. However, where private ownership exists, the private ownership can only extend to the location of the Mean High Water Elevation. The state owns everything below (or south) of mean high water. If someone asks (or tells) someone to move off their property it should require them to demonstrate where that location is. The ONLY way to do that accurately is via survey. It would be interesting to see how many owners have an up-to-date survey that would stand up legally in a court.

One other note, where the beach restoration has occurred, the mean high water line was set by the establishment of an Erosion Control Line and does not move like it does in the 30-A area. This means there is now a publically-owned dry beach that was created by placing sand in the water seaward of the MHW line (ECL in this case). In other words, part of the dry beach would be publically-owned and part could be privately-owned. Sandtrap is located within the project area. It would be interesting to see if the owner was removing people from land south of the ECL because if they are, then they would be removing them from publically-owned beach. They should have to demonstrate that people were north of the ECL at least until the aforementioned Supreme Court Case is ruled upon.

Sounds like the definitions of public beach and private beach are as clear as mud!

Someone thought that the new private beach access in Blue Mountain was approved on the condition that the public have use of the entire beach. Anyone got more info on this?

I think making the whole beach "public" as a condition of a new developement is a great idea!

To be fair to the private property owners, a lot of them have had problems with people in the past going beyond a reasonable distance to shore and going right up to houses, trampling landscaping, leaving trash on the beach, inappropriate locations for urination, etc.

To be fair to the private property owners, a lot of them have had problems with people in the past going beyond a reasonable distance to shore and going right up to houses, trampling landscaping, leaving trash on the beach, inappropriate locations for urination, etc.

Obnoxious and poorly mannered people will ruin it for others every time! I never have a problem with them being ticketed for littering or asked to move.

I could see it being an issue in locations where homes or condo "yards" are quite close in elevation to the beach (plant some shrubs or put up a fence already for the truly stupid wanderers), but in many locations along 30A and old 98 there is approximately a 2 story difference in grade, making it difficult to accidentally wander too far into someone's yard.

If I am ever asked to leave a beach, I will consider it an invite to stay... They will need to arrest me! I feel that would be some real positive publicity for the issue. ;-)

It looks like we have our Rosa Parks!😀

It looks like we have our Rosa Parks!😀

Bobby J's goin' to jail! Cool! :cool:

If I am ever asked to leave a beach, I will consider it an invite to stay... They will need to arrest me! I feel that would be some real positive publicity for the issue. ;-)

:clap: :clap: :clap: come sit in front of my house! i will call the cops/sheriff! then sit back and watch! :cool:

If I am ever asked to leave a beach, I will consider it an invite to stay... They will need to arrest me! I feel that would be some real positive publicity for the issue. ;-)

Maybe that could be the summer solstice activity for the local Surfrider group. Start the day with a sit-in and then paddle out in the evening. ;-)

Or have a sit-in and paddle out whenever they try to move them!