Driving on the beach

I am sure that there is some sort of 12 mess... ...I mean step program out there somewhere. I will have to do a internet search... ...I am sure there is a message board out there that deals with it.

Good luck...I'm afraid that most of us are too far gone for intervention at this point! But, bdarg...I like your style!!!

There is great potential for a major disaster as the rules are currently written. The rules state that you must be a Walton County property owner or full time resident in order to obtain a permit. However, look around at the license plates on most of the vehicles with Beach Permits, and you will see out-of-state plates. Everyone buying property here is also purchasing a Beach Permit if they have a 4x4 (probably mostly for a status symbol when they go back to the big city). I do think the number of permits should be limited, and not by the price. If they limit it, I would like to see it limited to people who have homesteaded property in Walton County.

Just my 2 cents worth.

SJ, "The rule states that you must be a Walton County property owner OR a full time resident." I thought you had to be a 'property owner' in order to obain a permit.

SJ, "The rule states that you must be a Walton County property owner OR a full time resident." I thought you had to be a 'property owner' in order to obain a permit.

You are correct, Franny. I must have misspoke. You must be a property owner in Walton Co. Thanks for keeping me straight. ;-) I must have been thinking about the requirements for fishing licenses when fishing from land.

I thought it might be worth a try, but the MBADD (Message Board Attention Deficit Disorder) is hard to battle. :idontno:

Now this is just too dam funny :funn:

The first time I saw vehicles on the beach here, my jaw dropped.
I don't see anyone launching boats where we go (St Joseph Peninsula.)

Frankly I don't see what the "recreation" is, but then I've never really taken part in America's love affair with automobiles. I know it's a time-honored custom and all, but yes, it creeps me out a bit. Every time there is a car rumbling behind me, I find myself nervously looking over my shoulder to make sure I am not in their way. The drivers are very polite and friendly and obviously they are not going to mow me down. They drive along, stop, get out and rummage through the shells and driftwood, then get back in and drive some more.
And yes, I'll see other folks who drove in with their coolers and such.
Why can't they park in the lot and hand-carry their coolers? Because they don't have to. Why use your feet when you've got wheels?
I pick up a lot of stuff but I don't think the cars leave any more trash than pedestrians.
I think it is all about people loving their cars. I don't really understand this, but then there are probably other people who don't understand why I love my dogs and enjoy having them on the beach. Different strokes.

If you vote yes, don't be afraid to tell us why.

Gotta be a troll just to get the old post count up, but, oh well, you asked for it - here's both barrels (And thanks, I could do with a good vent, with all the stress of Christmas and family and traveling and all! Hope somebody's making the popcorn!). OK, lets see:


"Greasy, polluting, heavy, and harmful - that about describes it. It's not only wrong to do it esthetically, it's just wrong to do it, period.

From the unseen sea turtle eggs you just crushed that would have survived to swim the sea lanes for up to 100 years or more, to the ghost crabs that try so hard to scatter out of the way of your great crashing tires but just can't make it in time, to the drunken antics of a screaming horde of monkey's butts; the beach should be a getaway, not a parking lot, racetrack, or three-ring-circus complete with props.

"Watch all these fat clowns pile out of that one little SUV! Oh, ho-ho-ho-ho-ho! And look at the size of their COOLER! Oh, ho-ho-ho-ho-ho! Oops! There goes one face down! I guess he shouldn'ta had that last maragarita! Oh, ho-ho-ho-ho-ho!"

All fun(n) aside, I suppose I do have a caveat or two, that vehicles on a beach where construction equipment roams daily, what's the difference?

And since I wouldn't be caught dead on a beach with cars, tents, or even that many people, what business is it of mine?

Give me a backpack with a picnic feast, two beach towels and six pack of solidly frozen water in it and I'll see you around.

I'll be relaxed and happy and you will be all so crabby and coughing and just plain mean.

And while you're at it, get the #$%^ @# cop's suv off my beach too.

They can use the stupid helicopter that my wildly overvalued property taxes paid for to check for sleeping vagrants, or whatever it is they look for, when they drive around wasting fuel and blasting out low-level ozone and lung-bleaching carbon monoxide.

They should be picking up all the garbage and *anything* left overnight on the beach and not sticking their big polluting nose into my stretch of it."


Oh, I do feel better. Thanks for the invite, couldn't have come at a better time. Have a nice day and Merry @#$%^& Christmas!

AB:


Good one :clap_1: :clap_1:

Oh ab...you need a Christmas Hug!!! I do agree with most of what you said...the parts I can follow!

Thanks! We have 8 cats and one dumb dog so I get plenty of loving! And, of course, my best friend, roomate (and so much more) of 14 years! Feel that Christmas spirit!

edited to get out of the dog house!

I've lived in Walton County for nearly four years now...I don't own a 4 wheel drive vehicle nor do I own property, but my boyfriend does. Driving on the beach is something he has been able to do "forever" (he recalls driving down in Inlet Beach???) since he has lived here for 28 years. However, it seems that even when I visit my parents in Birmingham, I see Walton County Beach stickers on AL registered vehicles. Of course, since they own property here it works, but it seems that there should be more restriction than just owning property. It seems the "true" locals just keep losing more and more of what made me want to move here in the first place - the quaint, cozy, mom and pop feel of the area.


Perhaps implementing the required voter's registration card/FL driver's license with verifiable Walton County street/911 address would eliminate excess hoopla. Those already with permits who live out of state could be grandfathered...It is harder to get your dog on the beach that it is your vehicle...