Surfers fined $80 for paddling out in NYC

[surf patrol]

Over the weekend, a group of at least four surfers were fined $80 at Rockaway Beach for the apparently criminal act of paddling out during dangerous conditions. With tropical storm Hermine trudging up the eastern seaboard, many residents prepped for damage while surfers prepped for waves.

“We only get a couple of days a year for all the conditions to come together,” said Jay Harrison, who was one of the surfers ticketed, to the New York Post. “It’s really disappointing. I’m going to fight it. There’s nothing dangerous about these conditions.”

http://www.surfline.com/surf-news/nypd- ... n-_141407/

[oldmansurfer]

Yeah I can understand. I had a good friend who went to college in New Jersey. There was a hurricane coming and he was out surfing and the police were trying to get him to come in. He was yelling back that he knew a hurricane was coming and he was ok. If I was that starved for some sizable surf it might be worth the $80.

[DreamSurf]

80 dollars is a laugh. even for me. man we nowadays cant decide what to do. freedom my ass. we should have our pitches and forks and torches ready to storm into the government. just for this. i was looking at the storm. it was laughable. i could swim there and have a chill moment honestly

[billie_morini]

Cheeze Whiz! Let the last remaining men be responsible for their own actions.

[BaNZ]

Guys this isn't good. I just arrived at NYC an hour ago. Am planning to go surfing in Rockaway tomorrow/ weekend...

[billie_morini]

Banz, better bring $80 US cash with you. Don't worry too much. US paper currency holds up well in water. billie

[BaNZ]

People were looking at me like a nutter at the airport. I had two different members of staff asking me if it was a surfboard.

[billie_morini]

Welcome to NYC, Banz! There are millionsof people there that have never seen a live cow in a grassy meadow.

[Big H]

Welcome to NYC, Banz! There are millionsof people there that have never seen a live cow in a grassy meadow.

....that's one thing that isn't lacking here.....

[saltydog]

I guess so that the coast guard or harbor patrol or whoever doesn't have to come out to rescue you... which would cost the local gov $$$? Judging from the photo that looks like a pretty fun (and warm) wave if it weren't for this.

[RinkyDink]

The good news is that the fines will hopefully keep the kooks out of the water. There are always knuckleheads who have no conception of the forces they're dealing with in the ocean. You hear about morons who go out surfing when there are tsunami warnings in effect, for example. Complete stupidity, in my opinion. Hurricanes will easily kill people who are dumb enough to paddle out at the wrong time. Of course, hurricane swells preceding and following a hurricane should absolutely be surfed in my opinion. However, surfers really need to have some understanding of the weather to do that safely. Nevertheless, there are loads of morons out there who will paddle out at the absolute wrong time and get into trouble (it's not like hurricanes are predictable either). Those people with bad judgment put pressure on emergency rescue resources. Put another way, "uh sorry we couldn't get to your grandfather during his heart attack, we had to rescue a panicked and exhausted kook who paddled out an hour before 100 mile an hour winds hit the shoreline."

[icetime]

Watch out, the waves have sabres and will mug you at point blank range, to be honest the rest of new york si more dangerous than the ocean itself
I've had a family member mugged for their passport and it was a haste to get back home they didn't have much of a vacation