Amending Ordinance to Ban Signs, Ropes, Fences on the Beach

[John G]

What about marking property from MHWL? If it's 50 feet out in the gulf right now, no one can put up any kind of 'marker' in the water. The sheriff created an unenforceable SOP.

Yes created to be unenforceable by design. The Walton Two Step. Really cleaver when you think about it. Keeps that can rolling down the road.

Pass blame to BCC.

Now it looks like pass blame to Greg Anchors and Co., at the State Attorney.

Hell they couldn't get a Grand Jury Investigation right...

 

[Danny Glidewell]

Bob, deputies have a great deal of discretion as far as how they enforce the law. SOP's are the sheriffs guidance on how he/she wants the laws to be enforced. There are very few statutes that require action on the part of law enforcement. Domestic violence is the most prominent, the statute requires an arrest of the aggressor when probable cause exists. The trespass statute contains no such language. This SOP does leave the impression that they do not want arrests made on the beaches. The other remedy besides going to the SA is to elect someone with a different philosophy. Considering Sheriff Johnson enforced the trespass statute much more liberally and was soundly defeated and the current sheriff is running unopposed, I guess the majority is happy with how the law is being enforced.

 

[steel1man]

What is that remedy ?

According to the SOP he/she must be physically present.

I thought the Sheriff swore to uphold the laws of the State of Florida. Seems your saying he is free to pick and choose which laws of the state he enforces.

Oh they pick and choose. If your going to the beach and parking where ever you want. Don't worry about fire hydrants its OK to park in front of them.
Looking at two cars in front of one now. Sheriff deputies will drive by an smile 5-6 times today.

 

[Danny Glidewell]

Steel1man, the parking non-enforcement has been going on for decades. No sheriff in my memory has ever allowed the parking ordinance to be enforced. It was proposed once years ago to properly enforce the ordinance and statutes in exchange for a special unit to do it. The BCC declined to fund it and so things continued on. In the BCC's defense they had funded too many "special units" in the past that were later diverted to other uses. This happened two or three times with traffic enforcement units.

 

[Bob Hudson]

Danny

Thanks for enlightening me.

Is there a list of those ordinances and statutes that the funding provided by taxpayers are paying for ?

The SO is provided about 25 million dollars in ad valorem taxes to "protect and serve".

I'd like to know what laws and statutes we're not funding for that 25 million.

Is that covered by SOP's ? Are they available through a public records request ?

I'm beginning to understand JohnG's frustration.

 

[Danny Glidewell]

There was not a "list" in the past, those orders were given orally. As far as SOP's those are subject to public records requests with some exceptions.

 

[Dave Rauschkolb]

No signs allowed. No chains or ropes allowed. It's the law. It's simple. There is no need for enforcing trespassing laws on ground that is and should be accessible to everyone. Enforcing the bad behavior on the beach, on the sidewalks anywhere really is the key. Beach front homeowners deserve as much as we all do to have uncivil behavior regulated and punished when and wherever it occurs. The BCC has taken action and it appears code enforcement is going to get it going. The issue I take it that beachfront homeowners have used this bad behavior as an excuse to "justify" trying to limit access on the beach. Sorry folks it's our beach too and we all need to take ownership of how people act and take action to keep them from behaving badly. This sand is your sand. This sand is my sand. That is all.

 

[Bob Hudson]

I find no Walton County Ordinance declaring "Customary Use of the White sandy beaches" at this time.

Until that is done "it's not your sand" and some of it will "never be your sand". You yourself state that customary use is not ownership of the land.

 

[Bob Hudson]

There was not a "list" in the past, those orders were given orally. As far as SOP's those are subject to public records requests with some exceptions.

So the Sheriff could decided to NOT enforced the new provisions of the Beach Activities ordinance - not put it in writing and just orally state for those sworn to uphold the law to "stand down"?

 

[Matt J]

The Sheriff's Department does triage calls and I'm glad that almost every single thing in the world's trumps "someone's enjoying themselves come remove them".