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.
Replies
658
SoWal Insider
FTLOG, they have a plastic storage bin on the beach and a tent within a tent? 
Jdarg, I've been wondering about the cooler fairies myself.
Jdarg, I've been wondering about the cooler fairies myself.
Meow
FTLOG, they have a plastic storage bin on the beach and a tent within a tent?
Jdarg, I've been wondering about the cooler fairies myself.
...and a sign to identify their tent away from tent in case they get lost.
SoWal Insider
:angry: ...John R, is that a warning tag on those chairs? I saw crappo like this every morning on the BMB webcam and I finally decided to quit looking for my health's sake. Like I guessed, there are signs, but they are not read.I look at the BMB cam every morning too and am amazed at the crap still on the beach from the night before!
SoWal Expert
I would love to go park my car practically on top of that mess at Grayton. I bet when they pack up that crap tonight, they leave lots of trash in the area. I better take lots of garbage bags- looks like a big pickup day at the beach.
I am curious. I notice people leave HUGE coolers at the beach. Does the beer and ice fairy come in the middle of the night and refill, or is there some sort of beer and ice delivery that we don't know about?
they probably use those "Slow-Melt" Popsicles which are made of "ice structuring proteins.
"
needs to get out more
the tag on the chairs is a rental identifier. vinyl with the pertinent data written with grease pencil.
Skunky
I need one of those icechests on wheels. Wonder whats in the tackle box?
Skunky
the tag on the chairs is a rental identifier. vinyl with the pertinent data written with grease pencil.
Do you think we might need to bring our friend George Hayduke to Grayton?
Beach Fanatic
There are a lot of visitors out there who do not know about this "rule". I went to TDC's website to see if I could find something out on this, similar to what a visitor to our area would do.
I visited http://beachesofsouthwalton.com/safety_info.asp
and figured it should detailed there along with clean beach tips, rip tides, Seemore the crabby crab, turtle tips, etc.
But NOPE. Nothing. Here's their current list within that web page where one would EXPECT to find something on this matter. It even has a link to our favorite subject below.;-)
I visited http://beachesofsouthwalton.com/safety_info.asp
and figured it should detailed there along with clean beach tips, rip tides, Seemore the crabby crab, turtle tips, etc.
But NOPE. Nothing. Here's their current list within that web page where one would EXPECT to find something on this matter. It even has a link to our favorite subject below.;-)
Beach Updates
Click here for Beach Access map (pdf)
Have I missed a post where somebody's already asked this question? If I were an unsuspecting visitor, and someone confiscated my $250 setup (tent, umbrellas, chairs), I might be a bit upset with all the money I was pouring into Walton County including the bed tax.
Heck while we're at it...never mind...later.
Click here for Beach Access map (pdf)
Beach Safety
Clean Beach Tips (pdf)
Rip Current Awareness (pdf)
Tips to Reduce the Risk of a Shark encounter (pdf)
8 Tips For Family Beach Safety (pdf)
Sea Turtle Tips (pdf)
Red Tide Information (pdf)
Click here for Seemore the Safety crab
Click here for Seemore Safety Crab's Flag Warning System and Rip Current Tips
Clean Beach Tips (pdf)
Rip Current Awareness (pdf)
Tips to Reduce the Risk of a Shark encounter (pdf)
8 Tips For Family Beach Safety (pdf)
Sea Turtle Tips (pdf)
Red Tide Information (pdf)
Click here for Seemore the Safety crab
Click here for Seemore Safety Crab's Flag Warning System and Rip Current Tips
Weekly Beach Updates - 1-866-4my-beach
Have I missed a post where somebody's already asked this question? If I were an unsuspecting visitor, and someone confiscated my $250 setup (tent, umbrellas, chairs), I might be a bit upset with all the money I was pouring into Walton County including the bed tax.
Heck while we're at it...never mind...later.
Edited
SoWal Expert
Let's not jump the TDC too much. They even show restrooms at the 83 Access in BMB. :funn:Maybe Redfish Village is allowing the public ... 
nevermind.
nevermind.
Beach FanaticAuthor
Let's not jump the TDC too much. They even show restrooms at the 83 Access in BMB. :funn:Maybe Redfish Village is allowing the public ...
I have heard that those will be under construction this October, along with the parking lot...
Edited
Beach Fanatic
Let's not jump the TDC too much. They even show restrooms at the 83 Access in BMB. :funn:Maybe Redfish Village is allowing the public ...Well ain't that a bunch of crap!!!
But cereally folks, shouldn't that little factoid be there, warning tourists about confiscation before they actually start constipating?
Edited
Beach Fanatic
They will be warned. With a tag on the items to be removed 24 hours prior to their removal. Or so I hear. We'll see...
We'll see...Beach Fanatic
They will be warned. With a tag on the items to be removed 24 hours prior to their removal. Or so I hear.Thanks.
So if a tourist decides to take a day off from the beach, i.e. too much sun the day before, or bad weather, and fails to notice the tag because they didn't get to the beach that day, then bye-bye possessons - I guess.
TNJed, I like your level headedness. What is the name of your company?
Meow
Thanks.
So if a tourist decides to take a day off from the beach, i.e. too much sun the day before, or bad weather, and fails to notice the tag because they didn't get to the beach that day, then bye-bye possessons - I guess.
TNJed, I like your level headedness. What is the name of your company?
My take on this is that if people don't have enough sense to remove their crap from the beach at the end of the day, so be it. Just like if they don't have enough sense to stay out of the water when red flags are flying.
Beach Lover
Is it October yet?
SoWal Insider
Is it October yet?
Banned
As far as I know the DEP has an issue with stuff left on the beach because of the sea turtles.
Here everything is cleared every night to the dune line so turtle have a place to lay eggs.
I'm not sure if its just in season though.
It could be a stupid idea to cover the beach with 10'x10' tarps and claim as 'your spot'
Kinda like a dog marking its tree
Here everything is cleared every night to the dune line so turtle have a place to lay eggs.
I'm not sure if its just in season though.
It could be a stupid idea to cover the beach with 10'x10' tarps and claim as 'your spot'
Kinda like a dog marking its tree
Banned
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ESPECIALLY DESIGNED FOR THE WET SAND RESTRICTIONS IN SOWAL
COME GET EM, GOING CHEAP, ALL SIZES & COLORS
GUARANTEED TO KEEP YOU DRY ON THE WET SAND
http://www.tarpsplus.com/canvastarps.html
ESPECIALLY DESIGNED FOR THE WET SAND RESTRICTIONS IN SOWAL
COME GET EM, GOING CHEAP, ALL SIZES & COLORS
GUARANTEED TO KEEP YOU DRY ON THE WET SAND
http://www.tarpsplus.com/canvastarps.html
Beach Fanatic
My take on this is that if people don't have enough sense to remove their crap from the beach at the end of the day, so be it. Just like if they don't have enough sense to stay out of the water when red flags are flying.Don't you agree that TDC should have these requirements posted on their site? They post items that are alot more elementary such as avoiding shark attacks:
This is the best one....
"Do not enter the water if sharks are known to be present and evacuate the water if sharks are seen while there. And, of course, do not harass a shark if you see one."
Now me, I like harassing sharks. When I encounter a shark, I like to tell it the old shark / lawyer joke. I don't know why, but I always get a bad reaction from that one.
Then I take a t-bone steak and tease it, snatching it away every time it swims by. After about the 10th time, I show the shark that I'm really a nice person and let him think that he actually took it from me (boosts his self-ego as they are so sensitive). We become friends and frolic in the surf. Amazingly graphic artists back on shore become busy creating the GIFs modeled after our close friendship.
Have a great weekend!Now me, I like harassing sharks. When I encounter a shark, I like to tell it the old shark / lawyer joke. I don't know why, but I always get a bad reaction from that one.
Then I take a t-bone steak and tease it, snatching it away every time it swims by. After about the 10th time, I show the shark that I'm really a nice person and let him think that he actually took it from me (boosts his self-ego as they are so sensitive). We become friends and frolic in the surf. Amazingly graphic artists back on shore become busy creating the GIFs modeled after our close friendship.
Edited
Banned
Just looking at that beach access picture, how the hell is that ADA compliant?
Steps, helloooo
They should be ramps. Oh, oh, should I have missed that?
Nah, too much fun
How would you file an ADA complaint? Not difficult at all if you're in a chair. Start by callin the reps at the Dept of Justice.
LONG BRANCH - A city resident has filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Justice on behalf of senior citizens and disabled residents of the city he says have been denied beach access.
"Municipalities, such as Long Branch, are since January 1995, legally and categorically required by the ADA law to make these facilities ADA compliant," Gelzer said.
http://atlanticville.gmnews.com/news/2007/0301/Front_Page/034.html
You go girl
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular][/FONT][FONT=Times,Times New Roman]U.S. Department of Justice[/FONT]
http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/adahom1.htm
Steps, helloooo
They should be ramps. Oh, oh, should I have missed that?
Nah, too much fun
How would you file an ADA complaint? Not difficult at all if you're in a chair. Start by callin the reps at the Dept of Justice.
LONG BRANCH - A city resident has filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Justice on behalf of senior citizens and disabled residents of the city he says have been denied beach access.
"Municipalities, such as Long Branch, are since January 1995, legally and categorically required by the ADA law to make these facilities ADA compliant," Gelzer said.
http://atlanticville.gmnews.com/news/2007/0301/Front_Page/034.html
You go girl
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular][/FONT][FONT=Times,Times New Roman]U.S. Department of Justice[/FONT]
http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/adahom1.htm
Beach Lover
Isn't is amazing that the beach, sea turtles, sharks, beach mice, trees, (the) Mother of Nature survived a 'brazilian' years of natural "nature" before we $h*t in their backyard?
And NOW, we try to help?
(Insert Joni Mitchell song here)
And NOW, we try to help?
(Insert Joni Mitchell song here)
Beach Fanatic
Thanks.
So if a tourist decides to take a day off from the beach, i.e. too much sun the day before, or bad weather, and fails to notice the tag because they didn't get to the beach that day, then bye-bye possessons - I guess.
TNJed, I like your level headedness. What is the name of your company?
I guess a level head is better than a pointy one?
The Beach Chair Company
Original huh? Easy to remember though. ;-)
Beach Fanatic
WOW- what a difference a day makes. Looking at Blue Mnt beach this AM- much less junk left on the beach. Could be a fluke, change over Saturday, but I am hoping for good things. Plus, thanks to our condo owner- he took the time to email a warning and news story about the upcoming enforcement effort to his renters. Thanks, Albert!
SoWal Expert
I hope you are right Poodleone, but I think it is the changeover. 
I was on the beach yesterday afternoon at Grayton, and it looked like people were taking down their tent condos because they had to leave early this morning. There were plenty still up and "furnished" when I left, and I imagine there is a nice mess there this morning thanks to the storm that blew through last night!
I should get dressed really quick- have freinds coming in for the week, and I am sure I could find a few skim boards and beach toys buried in the lake, maybe even a few chairs and an umbrella. Actually, I might just go pick up trash around the outflow- it's like having friends come to visit and your house has trash all over the yard.
I was on the beach yesterday afternoon at Grayton, and it looked like people were taking down their tent condos because they had to leave early this morning. There were plenty still up and "furnished" when I left, and I imagine there is a nice mess there this morning thanks to the storm that blew through last night!I should get dressed really quick- have freinds coming in for the week, and I am sure I could find a few skim boards and beach toys buried in the lake, maybe even a few chairs and an umbrella. Actually, I might just go pick up trash around the outflow- it's like having friends come to visit and your house has trash all over the yard.
needs to get out more
I should get dressed really quick- have freinds coming in for the week, and I am sure I could find a few skim boards and beach toys buried in the lake, maybe even a few chairs and an umbrella. Actually, I might just go pick up trash around the outflow- it's like having friends come to visit and your house has trash all over the yard.
i'm in.
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