turtle watch volunteer arrested

I too, have heard one, but only one, Realtor shouting that the owner had full rights to all their property. The only problem with that particular Realtor is that he/she is not an attorney, but sounded as though he/she was giving legal consultation. Property rights are not determined by Realtors. ;-)

I can think of exceptions to that rule -- garbage. People are constantly taking other's property when they pick up garbage. You may be missing the point that many people leave their crap on the beach, even when they are heading back to where ever they live, thinking that others may be able to use it.

...the TDC would NEVER let that happen...Hey! Maybe we can blackmail them by threatening to send the portfolio of photos to the St Pete Times (local papers wouldn't post the story) unless they get off their collective arses and do some serious cracking down on the overnight and abandoned beach crap and scrap.

It is all about money.

The only reason that the ordiance to keep the beaches clean is not being enforced is that they are afraid to offend a paying guest that wants to be lazy and leave their crap on the beach overnight.

And years ago it probably was not that big of a problem for two reasons. One fewer people came to the area and people were just generally more responsible and caring about the impact their actions have on the area.

Now you have more visitors and more that simply do not care. Until the county truly begins to care, it is not going to improve. You can educate all you want but those willing to be educated are not the ones causing the problems.

A fine is a great idea on paper but will have no effect without enforcement and therein lies the problem.

I disagree with your premise. Having clean beaches will attract more tourists, and that is the number one thing on the TDC's list -- attracting more tourists. It will take less than one season to educate people, if it is done everyday, without exception, along the entire length of the beach. In my opinion, at first, people will balk, but in the end, they will appreciate the correction.

You need a picture that can convey the gravity of the situation without all the captions. Unless I know that stuff has been there a while, it's difficult to be outraged, I'm just being honest. It certainly doesn't look like a major eyesore. For me at least it doesn't have the impact.

Oh I agree, but I not sure those making the decisions are. Because truly if they believed that, why are they not doing it.

Either it is money they don't want to spend to enforce the codes, or money they fear they will lose by offending someone.

Either way it is always about money. I know you can have clean beaches and make money from tourists, I visit too many other beach areas in the country that do not have these problems and see clean beaches and plenty of tourists.

But the TDC is going to have to be convinced of this.

Oh I agree, but I not sure those making the decisions are. Because truly if they believed that, why are they not doing it.

Either it is money they don't want to spend to enforce the codes, or money they fear they will lose by offending someone.

Either way it is always about money. I know you can have clean beaches and make money from tourists, I visit too many other beach areas in the country that do not have these problems and see clean beaches and plenty of tourists.

But the TDC is going to have to be convinced of this.

I'm not certain, but I don't think it is the TDC who is responsible for the non-enforcement issue. I believe it is the Interim County Attorney who has contacted the Attorney General's Office for their opinion on the legalities of the County Ordinance. It sounds to me as there is question to the legality of the Ordinance as written, so they are suspending collection of crap on the beach until further notice.

This is laughable to me since, if I recall correctly, there was a Republican rally locally that had a pinata of Obama's head that was bashed in front of children. Do you condone bashing an effigy vs. the illegal tear down of inanimate objects left illegally on a beach? I also do not see anything in the article stating she did this is front of her children or grandchildren.

I believe it is the Interim County Attorney who has contacted the Attorney General's Office for their opinion on the legalities of the County Ordinance.

Does anyone else think it's time we hired an actual county attorney?

Sorry that you find the words on the photo more distracting than I find all of the crap on the beach. Those are just words. How about you walk down to the beach and see for yourself if you live near South Walton. (I think that everyone should get off their lazy-schtick and go to the beach in the morning, to see with their own eyes. You will be shocked, I'm sure. Photos really don't capture the magnitude of the crap left on the beaches. I can take plenty of close up photos, but posting all of them would lose impact. Go see for yourself.

Littering on the feeder roads to 30A (also Scenic Hwy) carries a fine up to $500 per incident. Why the hell are our beaches not also protected like this? Seems to me that the biggest reason why our roads are designated as "scenic" is because they are the route to some of the prettiest beaches in the world. Leaving your crap on the beach overnight should be considered "littering" and should carry a fine at least as heavy as those issued for littering on the roads getting to the beach, IF NOT GREATER. The only problem with that is enforcement, because no one in their right mind is going to be laying claim to a $99 canopy and three year old plastic chairs with rusty frames, in exchange for a $500 fine. But, at least then, the abandoned property would really be abandoned as no owner is laying claim.

...and for the absent-minded yahoo who happens to leave his Rolex watch in the ice cooler on the beach overnight, he could lay claim to his watch and pay the $500 fine for littering and reclaim his watch.

SJ, I'm not knocking you for captioning the photo, I'm just saying that it's difficult to produce an impact photo. Indeed I'm sure you have to be there. However, you'll never see me up that early. No way no how. That's just me. You morning people are insane.;-) No I am going start walking the beaches, and your message is not lost.

Here's a photo I took near the Draper Lake Outfall just after 6 this morning. Click on the picture and it will take you to a larger image as well as four other pictures also taken this morning on my turtle walk. I didn't know how to dump all 5 photos in here at once.

Dramatic photos, ASH. I can't imagine how much of this would become airborne if we had a nice thunderstorm overnight, and would end up either in the gulf or a quarter-mile away.

I guess when one of these missiles ends up crashing through someone's gulf front patio door it will become an issue.

Here's a photo I took near the Draper Lake Outfall just after 6 this morning. Click on the picture and it will take you to a larger image as well as four other pictures also taken this morning on my turtle walk. I didn't know how to dump all 5 photos in here at once.