Daytona Beach

[BTP]

Is anyone aware of recent Volusia County Beach Patrol actions/policies(apparently with no legal authority) that have, in effect, banned surfing in the Daytona Beach/Ormond beach area--even in designated surfing areas--at their own discretion? No joke--lifeguards are not allowing surfers (in legal surf zones) to go out past waste deep water: their reason: some tourists are following surfers out to the outer sandbars, possibly getting caught in run-outs! In effect, since on most good surf days there is at least some run-out, there will be no more surfing in Daytona Beach! If the Beach Patrol keeps this up we'll all start going to Flagler to surf--and buy surfboards and surf paraphernalia up there, stay at Flagler motels and eat at Flagler restaurants. I mention this because, in my opinion, Volusia County Beach Patrol/Daytona Beach government is not (and probably never has been) much concerned with individual constitution rights and liberties, nor even common sense–but they will almost always respond to threats of loss of revenue ( to local merchants) and to bad press. Not all surfers are non-voting teens with no money or political clout–a good number, like myself, are young or middle-aged voters and professionals who resent arbitrary and arrogant abuse of authority by local law enforcement agencies who apparently believe they can make up, day-by day, their own arbitrary laws/regulation, instead of just enforcing them, which is, in my understanding, the function of the legislative branches of the government? Good luck to the local merchants such as Salty Dog and other local surf shops!

[billie_morini]

BTP,
I was intrigued with your post. So, I went to this link:
http://www.discoverdaytona.com/usefulinfo.htm

The information below was obtained there.

SUNBATHING: A new law in Volusia County stipulates that it is illegal to sunbathe next to your car due to the limited parking spaces on the beach. You may, however, sunbathe in front or behind your car.

SURF REPORT: Call 386 253-1234 for daily surf reports or visit http://volusia.org/beach/driving.htm

So, I called the phone number above. It rings a surf shop. I asked the employee that answered the phone whether surfing is allowed at Datona and Ormond beaches. He said, "Oh, yeah!" I re-read your post and see the detail of "past [sic] waste deep water." Am not sure what is going on with all of this. You have not posted on this website prior to your June 20, 2009, post about Volusia County. Could there be more to this story?

[billie_morini]

by the way, this link: http://www.volusia.org/beach/surfzones.htm
defines the surf zones at Daytona and Ormand beaches. Clearly surfing is allowed, however there is a special condition. It reads, "Lifeguards may close an area to surfers when surfing could pose a hazard to bathers in the area." Perhaps there is some heavy handedness going on due to dumb swimmers.