Tourists not welcome?

I see unleashed dogs up and down the beach all day and then my leashed dogs get kicked off the beach after 4:00. If Walton County is going to have laws then they need to be enforced consistently. It's kind of like the speed limit. If you drive 75 in a 70 you're probably not going to get a ticket. If you drive 90 you're getting pulled over. I was driving 71 in a 70 and got pulled over.

4robbins, I understand your anger, but with respect to the speed limit analogy, maybe this helps. One time I was pulled over by a Georgia state trooper for speeding while in a group of cars going roughly the same speed. When I asked why he was ticketing me when there were others going the same speed or faster, he just said "Son, when you're shooting at a flock of birds, it doesn't much matter which one you hit."

For a while I was angry too, but over time I realized he'd given me a valuable lesson. Flocking may provide coverage, but it is not a defense. In the long run, this is probably a good thing.

4robbins, I understand your anger, but with respect to the speed limit analogy, maybe this helps. One time I was pulled over by a Georgia state trooper for speeding while in a group of cars going roughly the same speed. When I asked why he was ticketing me when there were others going the same speed or faster, he just said "Son, when you're shooting at a flock of birds, it doesn't much matter which one you hit."

For a while I was angry too, but over time I realized he'd given me a valuable lesson. Flocking may provide coverage, but it is not a defense. In the long run, this is probably a good thing.

I've also heard the fishing analogy. You won't catch all of the fish, but hopefully you'll catch a few.

I once heard a judge speaking before a group who described it like this...

The law is intended to be "just." Just is not necessarily "fair." If you get ticketed for doing the same thing everyone else is doing, that is not fair. But it is just--because you were, after all, still breaking the law.

Saw a dog on the beach the other evening running free and trailing his leash behind while the owners (I assume) stood nearby enjoying the sunset. I guess technically the dog was on the leash - where does it say someone has to be at the other end? Why is it those who don't live here, groveral, seem to think these sort of things are alright and the rest of us should just "get a life"? We had a pretty good life before so many of you started arriving and our leaders started chasing the almighty dollar. LEAVE YOUR DOGS AT HOME!!

This kind of comments make me angry. Our tourist dollars brings a huge amount of revenue to the panhandle. We bring our dog with us. We do not take him on the beach. However, when we used to rent the same place every year in Inlet Beach, the people in the next building of townhouses always had their dogs with them. They owned the unit they stayed in. Their dogs were off leash on the beach and messing on the beach right in front of us. The owner did clean it up but what's the difference? A dog on the beach is a dog on the beach! Tourist or resident/owner!

I agree the dog on the beach is the problem but I have lived here a long time and am very familiar with our beach and all that goes on there. I used to live on the beach. And I can tell you it is our visitors that abuse the beach in many ways and totally ignore signs, beach flags, ordinances, rules on the bike path and I could go on. It is not just my opinion it is the was it IS!!! Just yesterday I was on the beach trying to get rid of an unleashed dog that attached itself to my leg! No, the dog owners did not live here and they knew better. As a resident I should be able to walk the beach anytime I want and feel safe from unleashed dogs. An unleashed dog that I don't know that is heading toward me you bet is a nuisance and sometimes I am fearful for my safety. I should be able to walk the beach without that stress!!! Most of the dogs I see are not permitted anyway and shouldn't even be on the beach! And yes, I am an animal lover and dog owner but I personally don't think dogs belong on the beach so mine stays home!

I love bringing my dogs to the beach. Yes, they are on a leash. This is one of the reasons that Walton County just doesn't do it for me anymore. Too many rules, too many restrictions.

I love bringing my dogs to the beach. Yes, they are on a leash. This is one of the reasons that Walton County just doesn't do it for me anymore. Too many rules, too many restrictions.

Then why do you still participate on the SoWal.com forum? Just curious.

Yes, too many rules and restrictions because too many people don't do what they are supposed to do and they have absolutely no respect for others. And too many rules and restrictions that are NEVER enforced and that's why they write more! The answer is very simple!!!

Jdarg - I own property there and like to keep up with what's going on. Before our horrible experience in June, we were ready to build. Too many rules and restrictions because there are too many people now!!!!!! Thought I was safe because highrises were not allowed anymore.

And I can tell you it is our visitors that abuse the beach in many ways and totally ignore signs, beach flags, ordinances, rules on the bike path and I could go on.

Why do you care whether visitors ignore beach flags?

Visitors can't ignore bike path rules if they never pass one of the scarce signs listing those rules. Likewise, if they use a private beach access, they won't see the beach rules signs.

I agree that unleased dogs can be a nuisance, large ones anyway. Visitors and residents alike should know not to let their dogs frighten other people.

And one more thing. Did anyone else read the first post that started this thread? 4robbins said he was kicked off the beach because he was not a resident here. It had NOTHING to do with his dogs being off the leash but it had everything to do with his dogs NOT having permits for the beach. But the point really is that no one seems to follow the rules anyway and Walton county does not enforce much if anything and for me the latter is the real problem here!

I agree that unleased dogs can be a nuisance, large ones anyway. Visitors and residents alike should know not to let their dogs frighten other people.

I'm more afraid of the small yappy ones.

Oh, and clowns too. There should be a rule against clowns on the beach. Especially the kind that make those balloon animals.

Lenzoe! You are hilarious!!!!!