Security on 30-A Beaches

[scooterbug44]

Will there be Free BobbyJ t-shirts available for purchase?

Just don't abbreviate too much ..................... could cause a different kind of stir if sowallers started wearing "free bj" shirts

 

[Smiling JOe]

SJ, it is VERY CLEAR when a deed shows the southern border as a line that "meanders" along the MHWL. The deeds I have seen clearly show this.

Now, everyone pretty much agrees that the beach has eroded to some degree. This would most likely put this (19 year average) MHW line in the water.

The side property lines on the beach of many gulf front properties are just an extension of the lines above the dunes.

Knowing the above, would you still force a homeowner to prove to you that their property is private?

Some deeds are very clear, but some are not. Some places where the property was deeded to the County, was done so only if the County maintained the property. In some cases where this language occurs, the property has not been been maintained if you ask the landowners in the area. Show me the deed, show me the survey. The MHW line varies, so show me your corner markers.

My question is do YOU want to tie up the Sheriff's Dept? In most cases, the public has been using the beach as public, since Grayton Beach was settled. I'm not a lawyer, but I bet a good attorney could argue that because the beach has been used publicly for such a long time, without objection by the homeowners to the north, the public has some rights to the beach.

 

[Bobby J]

Just don't abbreviate too much ..................... could cause a different kind of stir if sowallers started wearing "free bj" shirts

I was wondering where I could get one of those "free Bj" shirts. I guess I just have too much rebel in me. The beaches have always been for everyones enjoyment in my eyes. I think the more the beach front owners make a big deal out of this (HIRING SECURITY TO MOVE FOLKS OFF THE BEACH), the more problems they will have. Especially when our tax dollars start fixing "their" back yard. If I owned beach front property I would not want to be the one caught up leading the fight to remove people from my beach! If I was, I would not want locals to know which house was mine... I think we have a new 30A rule. ;-)

 

[ATJoe]

Just don't abbreviate too much ..................... could cause a different kind of stir if sowallers started wearing "free bj" shirts

 

[seacliffes]

Not sure how many of you are actual homeowners in this area, but thought I would give just a little bit of insight from the ?other side?. I have a home at Miramar beach on a private road (that my neighbors and I pay for and maintain) which has a ?private beach? that was originally acquired in 1948 as part of the purchase and for which a price was paid. Our home owners association is responsible for this part of the beach much like common ground that one finds in other neighborhoods. This requires us to pay taxes to the county for that portion of the beach down to the high tide line. We also must carry liability insurance for this portion of the beach.

I, like most of you, have always felt inclined to let the beach be used for the common good and I can assure you that neither I nor my neighbors ever go out and chase people off our deeded portion of the beach. Our houses happen to be situated next to ?camping on the Gulf? and we have always looked the other way as people would migrate from the camp ground past the camp ground?s own beach and plop their tents and canopies down on our portion of the beach. We have posted one sign as required by our attorney that this portion of the beach is private and of course the daily mass of campers simply ignore the sign as they haul their boats, tents and fishing gear over to ?our? portion of the beach. Often times I am sitting with my family on the beach with an umbrella up looking at the water when sure enough a group from the campground plops their huge canopy up right in front of us (between us and the water) drag out the ole boom box and proceed to gulp 3 cases of beer (generalization of course). Often times kids are out swimming and some good old boy will bring out two or three fishing poles and start casting with bait fish right amongst the swimmers (brilliant).

This is pretty much a daily occurrence during the summer and as I have said we don?t go out and hassle them or anything. Basically we look the other way. As a reward for this behavior, we always have the opportunity to go down to the beach at sunset (I love it then) and start picking up the trash. Beer cans, diapers, cups, broken beach chairs, etc etc. My favorite is when a ?camper? digs a 4 foot hole in the sand and leaves it so that someone can fall in it that night while ?crabbing?. Guess who that unlucky person is going to sue?

But as I say, we try to be good and neighborly about it. This spring we had a group migrate down the beach to our portion of it with two kegs of beer and a stereo system that rivaled a Led Zepplein concert. We did say something to that group and yes that was one time the sheriff was called.

I am always puzzled as to where all of these people are after a big hurricane like Opal when the beach is full of appliances and junk and needs to be cleaned up. No one is around to help clean it up which is also our responsibility. Obviously we are glad to do this as it is the right thing to do.

Just thought I would give you a small perspective from one who gets to deal with the public use of the beach which as I have said we gladly share. Hope to see all of you on the beach particularly after July 4th. I?ll be the guy picking up the trash and fire works off the sand.

 

[Paige]

Some deeds are very clear, but some are not. Some places where the property was deeded to the County, was done so only if the County maintained the property. In some cases where this language occurs, the property has not been been maintained if you ask the landowners in the area. Show me the deed, show me the survey. The MHW line varies, so show me your corner markers.

My question is do YOU want to tie up the Sheriff's Dept? In most cases, the public has been using the beach as public, since Grayton Beach was settled. I'm not a lawyer, but I bet a good attorney could argue that because the beach has been used publicly for such a long time, without objection by the homeowners to the north, the public has some rights to the beach.

What are the laws on adverse possession in Florida? I'm from Arkansas.

Also, at least where we go in Seagrove Beach, it is pretty easy to tell where the high water line is from the last high tide. You can look at the erosion in most places and guess that the high water mark is a few feet north of that..

 

[JB]

Seacliffes, that was a great post.

Uncaring tourists are hard enough on the beaches. I can only imagine how bad the ones are who frequent Camping on the Gulf.

My sympathies.

 

[30A Skunkape]

Good post Seacliffes!

 

[Paige]

Seacliffes,

In Arkansas, a sign would not be enough to protect your land from adverse possession.

 

[Miss Kitty]

seacliffes,

Thank you for your thoughtful post...so sad how a few bad apples can spoil the whole bunch. I can tell you struggle with this problem. You might send us some pics of this so we can truly understand the nastiness you are dealing with.