Enforcing Beach Ordinances - Revenue Opportunity?

Oops, sorry meant to respond to this as well. Yes, some rentals leave a dog permit inside the unit for all dog owners to use while staying here. I know it's not legal but done all the time. Most units that advertise "dog friendly" do this and it's not unusual.

How about punishing the offenders instead of passing restrictions on people that follow the rules. Otherwise, I could say kids should not be allowed in pools because some are actually using the bathroom in the water.

Freedom along with enforcement of rules that are balanced to allow us all to enjoy the beach without harming or imposing undue hardship would be my suggestion. Provide citizens opportunities to snap pics of offenders and get a reward for catching these folks that do not clean up. Their dogs, their glass and their trash. Anywhere in the county not just the beach.

What kind of savage lets their mutt pinch a loaf on the beach!?! Anybody caught doing that should have their mugshot taken and posted in the paper along with the offending dog and the pile. It's disgusting. My friends give me lip about my personal view that dogs don't belong on these beaches, permit or no, but one or two of them have had nothing kind to say about the matter while hopping along on one foot trying to find something to scrape the yuck (left behind by somebody's 'best friend') from between their toes. It's all fun and games until you realize what you just stepped in.

Many people think it is cute to let their dog roam and crap - and not just tourists, locals as well.

I say crack down on items left on the beach and glass. Always a fan of earning revenue while punishing wrongdoers!

Dad, Ed Walline, used to load up the dogs and take them to the beach because the gulf water was excellent for their skin problems. He didn't have a permit, and they weren't leashed. He would have been upset about glass on the beach, and smoking pot, but then again, they've been smoking pot on the beach as long as I can remember. In fact, they used to find bales washed up, used to be how they would deliver it, remote, quiet beach.

Does anyone know why there is no enforcement for basic ordinances like glass on the beach? Is the SO afraid of offending tourists, or do they not have the man power, or is it because offenders don't typically bring their IDs to the beach, or something else?

I would bet if you looked up citations for glass on the beach you'd find zero tickets.

A little late to the party, but we see PLENTY of citations for glass on the beach.
When you go hunting, do you shoot one deer or the whole herd?
Just sayin...

It's all fun and games until you realize what you just stepped in.

Life boiled down.

Walked yesterday in Seacrest which I do several times a week and there were more unleashed and unsupervised dogs to count! Was chased by one and even saw a dog fight at the waters edge and the barking continued for a long time. There were five dogs all together there, all unleashed and another dog just came walking by not with it's owner at all. Aside from being a safety issue, many people don't want the dogs or barking at the beach and owners usually don't clean up after their pets either. This has been a rant of mine for years but see no change in sight. I was just saying that those people within the law are always inconvenienced by those who do not follow it. That alone is irritating. I understand they patrol other areas but not my stretch of beach in Seacrest. They need to be there at about 3:30 when the permitted dogs are allowed on the beach but we get all of them and frankly, I have never seen one on a leash yet!!! This is not the same place it used to be years ago. Even off season there are too many people on the beach now and too many dogs! And sorry, the above comment about hunting does not apply here. I'm just sayin too......... If you are going to ticket some, you need to ticket the whole herd!

The dogs leave far less crap on the beaches than the tourdist....and at least their mess is biodegradable. Let's focus on the big trash issues first. I would prefer banning those kiddie shovel and pales and those portable homes/covers that the tourdist bring and leave.....

Last time I checked this was about enforcing the Beach Ordinance. The dog problem is just one item mentioned in the ordinance. I was not focused as much on their mess and yes, I know it is biodegradable but it can also contain parasites and some can be transmitted to humans. Thanks for making me think of that also. I walk in bare feet and so do several of my friends. Do you want to wear shoes to the beach? I certainly don't. Clearly that in itself is a safety issue as well as unsupervised and unleashed dogs that are NOT in control by their owners. Kiddie pales and shovels do not even compare.

Oh please. You are concerned about the handful of dog crap on our 25+miles of beach and the potential of parasites and disease? That's hilarious. You have a FAR greater chance of parasites and disease from the dead crabs,fish,shells,etc that are on the beaches and in the water. Perhaps you should wear a biohazard suit to protect you from the dangers on the beach...:roll:

PMS? You know you can take something for that.

I agree with all you Sowallers.........Sunday someone was walking their dog on the beach around noon and I didn't see a pooper scooper in hand.

I think the county should have better control over the issues mentioned regarding our beaches.
Let's stay on it!

And what about all those ill-mannered fish pooping in the water!?! We gotta DO something!

I don't think wanting people to pick up after their dogs is excessive.

Hello SoWal, I'm back after an extended absence. I am so happy to see my post from March has attracted such good discussion.

One thing I'd like to add to the discussion is that should the County (Code Enf. or WCSO) look to finally address the multiple violations on the beaches, I would ask that they enforce equally, not only during the off season when us "locals" abound. The most violations take place during tourist season and it is my opinion that the TDC educate the visitors instead of changing "the beaches" signs and taking helicopter rides with the sheriff's office.

I am very tired of seeing bottles on the beach (yes, I do call the Sheriffs Office to report this) and dogs during the day (some without leash). This past season was very productive financially for the area, however I could not help but notice the "sketchy" crowd that was also attracted by lower rates, etc.

One more thing, if you are going to stop locals on golf carts without tags, be sure to stop the tourists too.

Glad to be back.

dd