I know many don't see the Beach Breeze/Defuniak Herald so I thought I would post this article from July 12th that I found interesting. It looks like we will have more fireworks in addition to handcuffs on the beach. By the way, note that this will affect private individuals and vendors so let the funn begin..
Items left on beach to be removed
By DOTTY NIST
"Remove it or lose it," is now the rule in the evening on Walton County beaches.
To alleviate what has been identified as "a severe problem," Walton County has initiated a coordinated approach to have beaches clear of clutter in the evenings. The clutter of chairs, awnings, umbrellas, and other items on the beach has long been a complaint of South Walton Turtle Watch volunteers.
Federally-protected native sea turtles come onto the beach during their spring and fall nesting season, and their reproduction can be hampered by obstacles left on the beach in the evening. Human beachgoers can also run into or trip over these obstacles as they walk on the beach at night.
On June 28, Pat Blackshear, county planning and development services director, announced a cooperative effort between the county, the tourism council, and the sheriff's office to address the problem.
Blackshear explained that items left on the beach would be tagged and then removed after 24 hours if not taken off the beach by their owners. The policy applies both to private individuals and beach vendors, who are being notified by mail.
Walton County Sheriff's Office and Walton County Code Enforcement personnel will share patrol and tagging duties. South Walton Tourist Development Council (TDC) personnel will pick up tagged items once the 24-hour period has elapsed, and owners will forfeit items that are picked up.
TDC Executive Director Kriss Titus commented that, while Walton County's beaches have been honored by the Clean Beaches Council, she believes that the TDC has not been getting the message out about the importance of an uncluttered beach.
She said the TDC plans a "remove it or lose it" marketing campaign and will post information on its web page urging visitors to comply.
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SoWal Insider
Could always claim you mixed it up w/ yours!!! Don't think we should encourage potential beach rage/squatters claim rights just yet ;-).
please, no beach rage!!! okay, I've had beach rage once or twice, but it wasn't about tents. it was about music so loud we had to pack up and move to the very end of the beach (remember mangy?)... usually though I'm happy and relaxed at the beach and I just won't let a thing get to me. I really do NOT want to get under someone elses tent. who knows where its been?
Yep, I remember.
Who knows where it's been? It's a tent, not a condom. :funn: I think playing musical tents could be funn, you know like that speed dating thing now. Go from one tent to the other, try their food, play with different toys, some conversation. 
Beach Fanatic
This is the graytest plan yet, Mangy. 
SoWal Insider
If someone's tent, cooler, toys & chairs setup was "stolen" during the night...would the police department give a rat's rectum?
I say the new law of the beach should be "finders keepers" after sundown. Problem solved.
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I say the new law of the beach should be "finders keepers" after sundown. Problem solved.
.
SoWal Guide
Yep, I remember.okay, I'm in. we can each plan and set up various drinks/appetizers along a row of several tents and just have a progressive beach party. see, there is always an upside to things... event monster tents. next sowal soiree, here we come! oh, it will have to be in June or July - for major tentage.
Edited
Beach FanaticAuthor
Thanks for the info. So that means that our neighborhood is responsible for cleaning up all of the crap on the beach in front of the neighborhood since we don't have a TDC trash can? I'll do it Labor Day weekend like I always do, as well as during the off-season. It's easy to tell if something is abandoned in the off-season because there are so few renters. In the summertime you don't know whether the stuff belongs to current renters or previous ones.
Not on the beach, I was addressing the under and near private walkover question. If you read the FAQ it says they will remove stuff on the beach, just not under private walkovers. Also, if you put it against a nearby TDC trash can, the TDC will get it.
Edited
SoWal Guide
If someone's tent, cooler, toys & chairs setup was "stolen" during the night...would the police department give a rat's rectum?NO the police would not care. but we typically do not have thieves stealing things around here. only occasionally, like spring break and 4th of July when things are kinda out of control. my sister's family kept having their flip flops stolen in broad daylight during their week at grayton.
I say the new law of the beach should be "finders keepers" after sundown. Problem solved.
.
finders keepers:
Shelly, you have a point. and believe me, we've all thought this at one time or another. but, its just not the right thing to do and its not something we want to teach our children, so we don't do it (not to say we're completely innocent - there was a time when a few of us were just too mad about the crap left out at night and we did help ourselves to a few choice "things" I won't say what. then we realized it was wrong. won't do it again - promise!)
Edited
SoWal Expert
If someone's tent, cooler, toys & chairs setup was "stolen" during the night...would the police department give a rat's rectum?Problem is, I can find much more crap than I could ever keep.
I say the new law of the beach should be "finders keepers" after sundown. Problem solved.
.
SoWal Insider
finders keepers:
Shelly, you have a point. and believe me, we've all thought this at one time or another. but, its just not the right thing to do and its not something we want to teach our children, so we don't do it (not to say we're completely innocent - there was a time when a few of us were just too mad about the crap left out at night and we did help ourselves to a few choice "things" I won't say what. then we realized it was wrong. won't do it again - promise!)
OK...here's a kinder-gentler solution. The county can contract with the Salvation Army to do a sweep of the beach junk at night. They will then set up a store in South Walton so the "violators" can buy back their junk if other visitors or locals don't beat them to it first. Clean beach, cash for charity and clear path for turtles...win, win, win.
<I remember a time when our beaches didn't resemble a Moroccan Street Bazaar...frankly I'm getting a bit sick of the current situation.>
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Edited
SoWal Guide
OK...here's a kinder-gentler solution. The county can contract with the Salvation Army to do a sweep of the beach junk at night. They will then set up a store in South Walton so the "violators" can buy back their junk if other visitors or locals don't beat them to it first. Clean beach, cash for charity and clear path for turtles...win, win, win.
<I remember a time when our beaches didn't resemble a Moroccan Street Bazaar...frankly I'm getting a bit sick of the current situation.>
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perfect. we can have a huge yard sale every saturday morning down at the patrone's parking lot. we've actually discussed similar ideas. I'll shop for a new chair or toy.
SoWal Expert
Shelly, that is a good idea. I had thought about doing this as a re-using business, where I would collect the crap, and sell it for half price at Grayton General store. There would be plenty of selection, and we would be reducing the amount of crap that ends up in the landfill. It would be labor intensive and not a money maker, but it would serve a good purpose. The business would cease very quickly, as people were educated by experience.
Edited
Beach Fanatic
Just lucky we don't have a real tidal range here. Low tide they put there crap and cars on the beach and at high tide there gone! By the way that is how garbage pick-up is done in Venicia (Venice for ya non-Italian speaking folk). On cruise ships they do the same when they are more than 25 Miles offshore. Nice huh? 
Beach Fanatic
So Caroling, did you get before and after video or photos from the Eastern Lake area? I'm still out of town, so I can't get down there to see the results.
Yes, I did get the videos. I'm just dealing with how to get the videos from four mornings to show in parallel, so I can see what got tagged and what removed. Generally a big improvement at Eastern Lake, Ramsgate, and Lakewood/Beachfront. Most of the rental chairs are gone. However, some are not. The sheriff didn't tag everything. I will try to get some specifics together soon.
Beach Fanatic
Just lucky we don't have a real tidal range here. Low tide they put there crap and cars on the beach and at high tide there gone! By the way that is how garbage pick-up is done in Venicia (Venice for ya non-Italian speaking folk). On cruise ships they do the same when they are more than 25 Miles offshore. Nice huh?
Some people will do that during hurricanes. When Ivan was starting to come in, and before the beachcams went down, the news crew was pointing out a number of very nice looking cars left on Via De Luna in Pensacola Beach, presumably in hopes of getting a good insurance settlement from them.
SoWal Expert
I don't care what happens to the items (would obviously prefer a charity to a landfill as previously stated) as long as they GET OFF THE BEACH! 
SoWal Expert
Some people will do that during hurricanes. When Ivan was starting to come in, and before the beachcams went down, the news crew was pointing out a number of very nice looking cars left on Via De Luna in Pensacola Beach, presumably in hopes of getting a good insurance settlement from them.
How about this one, in the middle of 30A?
Beach Fanatic
The "wth did my beach stuff go" calls are starting to come in...:roll:
beats on hood
Not on the beach, I was addressing the under and near private walkover question. If you read the FAQ it says they will remove stuff on the beach, just not under private walkovers. Also, if you put it against a nearby TDC trash can, the TDC will get it.Gotcha. Actually I don't remember any time when a renter has abandoned anything anywhere other than under the walkover.
Thanks again for the clarificaton.
Meow
The "wth did my beach stuff go" calls are starting to come in...:roll:
... ... ...and don't forget the head's up at BMB...blue tent, red tent,
tent!!!Beach Fanatic
What do you say?
SoWal Expert
The "wth did my beach stuff go" calls are starting to come in...:roll:
details, dahling.....
SoWal Expert
The "wth did my beach stuff go" calls are starting to come in...:roll:Are they calling your office or another dept? Surely, they aren't reporting theft of goods which have been tagged.
The tags even have a "Case number" on them. Calling in to report their own breaking of the law sounds rather crazy. "Sheriff's Office."
"Yes, I'd like to report that our beach crap is missing from the beach."
"Where on the beach was it?" yada, yada, yada...
"I don't understand. We left it on the beach for five days and no one said anything."
"Did you see the warning tag on your crap?"
"We saw it, but didn't think they were serious. WTF?
""Sir, we will be more than happy to have you come to the station to collect your crap, but it will cost you. There will be a fine for littering the beach, and you have to pay to reinburse the County for storage of property and collection costs."
"
(Click. Phone hangs up quickly)."Beach Fanatic
Actually, it's very simple. "Please check with the Walton County TDC. They may be reached at 267-1216." 
I'd love to share stories of what people who get beach citations tell us, but for all I know, they might read SoWal. Then, there is also the matter of potentially getting fired.
I'd love to share stories of what people who get beach citations tell us, but for all I know, they might read SoWal. Then, there is also the matter of potentially getting fired.
Beach Fanatic
Grayt ...hopefully you won't be sayin' that in your sleep b4 too long.
...hopefully you won't be sayin' that in your sleep b4 too long. Meow
Actually, it's very simple. "Please check with the Walton County TDC. They may be reached at 267-1216."
I'd love to share stories of what people who get beach citations tell us, but for all I know, they might read SoWal. Then, there is also the matter of potentially getting fired.
You know how to PM me, don't you? ;-)
SoWal Expert
You know how to PM me, don't you? ;-)
I was going to ask if there was a place that we could go "shopping" before the stuff is hauled to the landfill or wherever it is going! I would be happy to make a little donation to something in exchange for some really nice chairs.
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