This morning as my wife and I were returing form a shoreline walk we saw county officials asking a couple of men to move their "set up" from infront of The Retreat at Blue Mountain Beach. About an hour later my wife saw him being led from the beach in handcuffs for tresspassing. One of the men was taking pictures... maybe we'll see them post them here.
I know from reading previous posts that this is a hot button issue but it seems that some want to enforce the "letter of the law". I saw where they were placed and it was close to the water line very near the boundry of the Inn at Blue Mountain. They seemed to minding their own business. As the sherriff left I happened to walk by them and heard "I think it was the right call... where the wet sand meets the dry".
I'm confused, the beachgoers were were set up outside of the posted signs. If the owners really want to keep people out can they fence in their beach? (not that I'd want to see that)
In the many years of coming to SoWal I've always been impressed with the civility of residents and tourists -- although I have heard some horror stories. We abolutely love it here and treat it as though we already live here. But I was very surprised that it seems the owners are calling the country for what seems such a small infraction -- seems like a waste.
This was the second day in a row that I saw county officials inforcing the private beach rule.
Is the pendulum swinging?
Replies
962
Beach Fanatic
This is such BULL S*&%! WE are working on this issue. Folks get involved. Don't just get pissed. They will win if we do not get people calling the county and complaining. It moves slow but we should win in the long run but need as many people as possible getting involved.
Beach Fanatic
This incident makes me want to bring about 400 of my closest friends and set up on the beach in front of the property where this took place.
Count me in.
A similar situation occured a few days ago at the Retreat when homeowners forced a family to move 5', (yes 5 feet!) because they had 'encroached' on the Retreat beach.
EVERYBODY at the party I was at on Sunday was talking about this because several of them witnessed the event.
Everbody was pissed and ready to protest.
It is ridiculous that some Retreat homeowners have nothing better to do in their multi-million dollar beachfront homes but leer down on beachgoers.
Is this why you bought into this area? Pleeeeeeeeeeease, get a life!
A well managed protest in front of the offending resident would probably make a very strong point, since apparently -these folks are strung way too tight and would be horrified at the uncalculated consequences of their actions.
Beach Fanatic
Bobby, are we getting organized as we did for the traffic signals? We need an organized effort...let me know exactly what needs to be done.
Beach Fanatic
Count me in.
A similar situation occured a few days ago at the Retreat when homeowners forced a family to move 5', (yes 5 feet!) because they had 'encroached' on the Retreat beach.
EVERYBODY at the party I was at on Sunday was talking about this because several of them witnessed the event.
Everbody was pissed and ready to protest.
It is ridiculous that some Retreat homeowners have nothing better to do in their multi-million dollar beachfront homes but leer down on beachgoers.
Is this why you bought into this area? Pleeeeeeeeeeease, get a life!
A well managed protest in front of the offending resident would probably make a very strong point, since apparently -these folks are strung way too tight and would be horrified at the uncalculated consequences of their actions.
sounds like funn!:twisted:
hmmmm......can't remember
sounds like funn!:twisted:
Can we ALL wear Speedos? That'll learn 'em!
Beach Fanatic
Can we ALL wear Speedos? That'll learn 'em!
SoWal thongs...
Edited
Beach Comber
Do you know if this was in the paper today?
Beach ComberAuthor
Sounds like you're gonna have som fun here... Too bad we're leaving tommorrow
Beach Fanatic
:trainwreck: :popcorn:
Beach Fanatic
SoWal thongs...
"Hey, Retreat Homeowners- you will relax and share the beach or you will be forced to look at pasty white, hairy buttocks ..............the choice is yours; relent or we will pull out the OMBs!"
SoWal Insider
With the county commissioners wringing their hands over how to cut taxes in the county, I suggest they start by cutting out the 5-person SWAT teams they use to remove peaceful citizens trying to enjoy a day at the beach.
.
.
Edited
SoWal Expert
I love it - a parade of Sowal thongs in front of their "private beach"! No law about folks wearing a swimsuit and walking down the beach on wet sand! Keep the OMBs hidden so they can't get you for indecent exposure!
Beach Fanatic
JB, did you actually read the FL Supreme Case decision of Tona-Rama, which is within the link above?
No, SJ, I didn't. I was simply going by the "mean high water mark" rule that you or someone else posted in the other thread.
You are obviously looking for an argument, so I'll leave you and the other "too much free-timers" to your own devices.
What's ironic is, I actually agree that the law, regardless of how murky the language, is ridiculous.
Carry on.
SoWal Expert
I love it - a parade of Sowal thongs in front of their "private beach"! No law about folks wearing a swimsuit and walking down the beach on wet sand! Keep the OMBs hidden so they can't get you for indecent exposure!
Want to make a wager on that? Walton County has laws regarding exposure of too much buttocks. :funn:I am still waiting for the first Sheriff's deputy to calculate the amount of exposed buttocks or breasts. I believe some Geometry and Calculus formulas will apply for measurements. ;-)
From the Walton County Code of Ordinances:
Sec. 13-28. Definitions.
Nude: Any person insufficiently clothed in any manner so that any of the following body parts are not entirely covered with a fully opaque covering:
(1) The male or female genitals, or
(2) The male or female pubic area, or
(3) The female breast (see the last sentence in this subsection), or
(4) The buttocks. Attire which is insufficient to comply with this requirement includes, but is not limited to, G-Strings, T-Backs,dental floss and thongs.
Buttocks: (For a short general description see the last sentence of this subsection.) The area at the rear of the human body (sometimes referred to as the gluteus maximus) which lies between two imaginary straight lines running parallel to the ground when a person is standing, the first or top of such line being one-half inch below the top of the vertical cleavage of the nates (i.e., the prominence formed by the muscles running from the back of the hip to the back of the leg) and the second of bottomsuch line beingone-half inch above the lowest point of the curvature of the fleshy protuberance (sometimes referred toas the gluteal fold), and between two imaginary straight lines, one on each side of the body (the "outside lines"), which outside lines are perpendicular to the ground and to the horizontal lines described above and which perpendicular outside lines pass through the outermost point(s) at which each meets the outer side of each leg. Notwithstanding the above, buttocks shall not include the leg, the hamstring muscle below the gluteal fold, the tensor fasciae latae muscle or any of the above-described portion of the human body that is between either (i) the left inside perpendicular line and the left outside perpendicular line or (ii) the right inside perpendicular line and the right outside perpendicular line. For the purpose of the previous sentence the left inside perpendicular line shall be an imaginary straight line on the left side of the anus that is perpendicular to the ground and to the horizontal lines described above and (ii) that is one-third of the distance from the anus to the left outside line, and the right inside perpendicular line shall be an imaginary straight line on the right side of the anus (i) that is perpendicular to the ground and to the horizontal lines described above and (ii) that is one-third of the distance from the anus to the right outside line. (The above description can generally be described as covering one-third of the buttocks centered over the cleavage for the length of thecleavage.)
🙂confused🙂
*********
Sec. 13-31. Nudity prohibited in public places. It shall be unlawful for any person to knowingly, intentionally, or recklessly appear, or cause another person to appear, nude in a public place or in any other place which is readily visible to the public, except as provided in section 13-32. It shall also be unlawful for any person or entity maintaining, owning, or operating any public place establishment to encourage, suffer or allow any person to appear nude in such public place, except as provided insection 13-32.
SoWal Expert
What's ironic is, I actually agree that the law, regardless of how murky the language, is ridiculous.So do you agree with the FL Supreme Court's interpretation of the law in Tona-Rama, or something else? Just curious, not trying to argue the point with you. ;-)
Carry on.
If any of these landowners win their case, I will be erecting a blockade over the road which the County built on my deeded property.
Edited
hmmmm......can't remember
From the Walton County Code of Ordinances:
... (4) The buttocks. Attire which is insufficient to comply with this requirement includes, but is not limited to, G-Strings, T-Backs,dental floss and thongs.
It doesn't really say dental floss, does it?!?!?!?😱
And per that definition, I'm no longer certain as to the location of my:moon:
Beach Fanatic
So do you agree with the FL Supreme Court's interpretation of the law in Tona-Rama, or something else? Just curious, not trying to argue the point with you. ;-)
If any of these landowners win their case, I will be erecting a blockade over the road which the County built on my deeded property.
I agree that any law forbiding anyone to use any section of the beach they want is bogus and wrong. If you saw my posts in the other thread, this should be clear to all.
I don't own gulf front property, so how could I possibly agree with anyone who wants to keep folks off the beach?
SoWal Expert
It doesn't really say dental floss, does it?!?!?!?😱Oh yes it does say "dental floss." :funn: I am confused about my buttocks, too, with all of the talk about clevage.
And per that definition, I'm no longer certain as to the location of my:moon:
SoWal Insider
Buttocks: (For a short general description see the last sentence of this subsection.) The area at the rear of the human body (sometimes referred to as the gluteus maximus) which lies between two imaginary straight lines running parallel to the ground when a person is standing, the first or top of such line being one-half inch below the top of the vertical cleavage of the nates (i.e., the prominence formed by the muscles running from the back of the hip to the back of the leg) and the second of bottomsuch line beingone-half inch above the lowest point of the curvature of the fleshy protuberance (sometimes referred toas the gluteal fold), and between two imaginary straight lines, one on each side of the body (the "outside lines"), which outside lines are perpendicular to the ground and to the horizontal lines described above and which perpendicular outside lines pass through the outermost point(s) at which each meets the outer side of each leg. Notwithstanding the above, buttocks shall not include the leg, the hamstring muscle below the gluteal fold, the tensor fasciae latae muscle or any of the above-described portion of the human body that is between either (i) the left inside perpendicular line and the left outside perpendicular line or (ii) the right inside perpendicular line and the right outside perpendicular line. For the purpose of the previous sentence the left inside perpendicular line shall be an imaginary straight line on the left side of the anus that is perpendicular to the ground and to the horizontal lines described above and (ii) that is one-third of the distance from the anus to the left outside line, and the right inside perpendicular line shall be an imaginary straight line on the right side of the anus (i) that is perpendicular to the ground and to the horizontal lines described above and (ii) that is one-third of the distance from the anus to the right outside line. (The above description can generally be described as covering one-third of the buttocks centered over the cleavage for the length of thecleavage.)
🙂confused🙂
Lordy, are they sending Swat "survey" teams out now with micrometers, protrators, and occilloscopes? :lol:
Beach Fanatic
Want to make a wager on that? Walton County has laws regarding exposure of too much buttocks.
Surely they aren't enforcing this............or every plumber in the county would be locked up.
Beach Fanatic
Hey S.J. call me I'll bring the post hole diggers and the new manly mich ultra!
SoWal Insider
All offenders will become buried in the sand except for butt, which will be used as bike racks. :lol:
SoWal Expert
:floor: :rolling:
Beach Fanatic
Maybe it's time to have a Key West type Fantasy Fest weekly right in front of the Advance, I mean the retreat!
hmmmm......can't remember
Lordy, are they sending Swat "survey" teams out now with micrometers, protrators, and occilloscopes? :lol:
Surely they aren't enforcing this............or every plumber in the county would be locked up.
Hey S.J. call me I'll bring the post hole diggers and the new manly mich ultra!
All offenders will become buried in the sand except for butt, which will be used as bike racks. :lol:
:floor: Stop it...:funn: I can't breathe...:funn: :moon: :rolling: :moon: :floor:
Checking your forum account
Please wait while we verify your forum account.