We received a press release last week from
www.openbeaches.org, announcing "Florida Legislator, Aaron P. Bean (Baker, Nassau, Union and parts of Bradford, Clay, Duval Counties) has begun the process of introducing the Florida Open Beaches Act to the 2005 legislative session."
Along with the press release came a copy of the two-page bill.
The purpose of passing the bill would be to keep people from creating "an obstruction that denies public access to the beach," and would keep state and local authorities from "revoking any public approach to the beach for private use."
We like this direct approach to this nagging problem.
The bill has specific language addressing waterfront owners? rights. It also specifies that the government "define, protect and enforce the public?s customary rights of beach access."
Such a bill would bring us closer to resolving the question as to who owns the beach, an issue that promises to become even more contentious as new homes continue to be built closer and closer to the water.
Most likely this bill will never see the light of day. However, a grass roots effort to help it along could make a difference.
The regular session of the legislature convenes March 8. You can e-mail your legislative representative and senator at
www.myfloridahouse.gov or wwwflsenate.gov. Let them know what you think of this idea.
You can read the bill in its entirety by following the links at
www.openbeaches.org.