Led away in Handcuffs

Another issue in SOWAL....? I can see it it now, a beach access disclosure we wil have to have clients fill out.

[and before]......

Good Points SJ. Could be where this thread should end. Let the courts decide!

Wow, look at all those poor people at the Retreat who can't find a spot because Joe Q. Public is there!

Oh, wait...............that's just 2 empty chairs on a vacant beach!

It's mine, so you can't use it....................even though I'm not using it! :angry:

To be completely fair to the peeps in The Retreat, later that day, I did see one lonely (cute) girl sitting all alone in the wet sand, with waves washing up on her. She could have been very content, but I saw the look of lonliness on her face.

these people had just been told to move off the beach (dry) at the Inn at Blue Mtn Beach by the shirtless guy wearing green shorts & visor.

To be completely fair to the peeps in The Retreat, later that day, I did see one lonely (cute) girl sitting all alone in the wet sand, with waves washing up on her. She could have been very content, but I saw the look of lonliness on her face.

SJ, one thing I agree with big time (assuming you do) is that the Retreat should post signs saying no trespassing if there truly are no signs. This would, at minimum, spare a lot of people a lot of embarassment (or worse)....unless you're there to make a statement!;-)

Please don't assume that. I only point out the observation that by the placement of the private property signs only on the dunes and at the entrances to the walkovers, they don't seem to be marking the beach as their own private property.

The last thing I want to see is private property signs on the beach.

I'm hoping for some great hurricane karmic retribution for the "mine, mine, mine, don't touch" beach owners!

Have a HUGE sit in on the beach, with so many people that the Sheriff has to call in the National Guard to help with the arrests of peaceful beach goers.

Have a HUGE sit in on the beach, with so many people that the Sheriff has to call in the National Guard to help with the arrests of peaceful beach goers.

Degummit Bobby J, how is this thread going to end when you keep posting???

Seriously, about your comment, "Let the courts decide!". I sort of asked you earlier if you were coordinating a legal assault. How is the court going to decide unless a suit is brought against an "offending" property owner?

BTW,
Did you get the info you needed with Surfriders tax number?

It looks like allot of balls are in motion. Am I coordinating a legal assault? Only time will tell. Now answer my question. How come you always bring up my RE business?

Always? In this case I was just concerned for you and SJ as another real estate agent mentioned that one could possibly lose their license if they were arrested. You make your profession no secret on this message board. Just trying to help out.

Regarding balls in motion..great visual.

BTW,
Did you get the info you needed with Surfrider's tax number?

Today's Walton Sun (http://waltonsun.com):

Recent arrest sparks private beach issue
July 11, 2007
Sean Boone
Sean_Boone@link.freedom.com

It has been more than 30 years since the 1974 City of Daytona Beach v. Tona-Rama, Inc. case, which made public access on dry-sanded beaches permissible, yet the issue of privatization continues to be debated in the state of Florida do to legal disputes and changes in county policies.
Although all beaches were declared permissible for use in the state in the Tona-Rama case, loitering and using private-deemed beach property for recreational use (tents, towels etc.) was not.
In South Walton, several beach resorts and developments have recently hired security officers to patrol the private section of the beach front property.
But what exactly is considered private beach front property?
According to the Tourist Development Council, areas west of Four Mile Village is deemed public 35-40 feet from the water due to the recent county beach nourishment project that has widened the beach; areas along 30-A that are private allow no dry sand access for public use.
?The Walton County Sherriff?s Office has been willing to enforce the wet sand line,? said a Blue Mountain Inn Beach Resort official. ?The majority of this area is private property. People bought it so they could enjoy it.?
Services, such as Silver Shores security (which Blue Mountain Inn and the Retreat use), have been hired to respond to complaints from residents who feel that their property is being intruded upon. If a problem persists, deputies are then notified.
The arrest that occurred in front of the Retreat beach community on July 5 has created a number of concerns for residents and visitors in regards to what and where is deemed legal to use the beach in the Blue Mountain Beach area.
Eduardo Gonzalez, 47, of Atlanta, Ga., was sitting in a chair on dry sand on Retreat property when he was asked by a security guard to move to the wet sand area of the beach, or leave. When Gonzalez refused, Walton Sherriff?s deputies were called and arrested him for trespassing. Gonzalez refused to comment on the incident.
?Until we get further guidance, we are going to enforce trespassing,? said Lt. Bryan A. Maule, Jr., of the Walton County Sheriff's Office
Although a change in beach policy has been denied by law enforcement, some long-term visitors and residents disagree.
?We?ve all been coming down here for 40 years, said Rick Hallman. ?Now they?ve started this whole territorial thing. We?ve got nowhere to go. If you?re going to start arresting tourists and hauling them off in front of family and kids, what kind of message are you sending to your tourists that you thrive on??
Hallman and his wife both witnessed the arrest last week in front of the Retreat and were also asked by security to move from the spot that they were sitting.
?We came down here to setup and of course the security guard came down and we had to move where the sand is wet. How can you have fluctuating property rights? Are they going to start arresting children??
Because of the recent attention that this issue has been given, the TDC released a frequently asked question list this past week to answer private/public beach questions that have been addressed by the public.
One question that was not listed and has been frequently discussed on the SoWal.com message board is the funding of the TDC in relation to public beach benefits (trash cans, lifeguards etc.).
?We are not part of the county,? said TDC Executive Director Kris Titus. ?We are fully funded by bed taxes. The TDC has the ability to drive on private beach; the health, safety, and welfare of the public is to have a clean beach.?
But even with the recent attention to the matter, the question still lingers as to how the general public will be informed on what is private beach access and what are the implications for trespassing.
?I think some of the county commissioners need to clarify where the public can use this beach,? said resident Debbie Barnhill. ?If it?s the case that we as taxpayers aren?t allowed to sit this close to water, than we need to put our properties up for sale and move on to an area that is more community minded.?
Calls to Retreat Homeowners Association spokesman Frank Flautt were not returned.