LA County OKs Hefty Fine For Throwing Football, Frisbee On Beaches
Los Angeles LOS ANGELES (CBS) — When you head down to the beach for a little fun this summer, county officials want you to leave the pigskin at home.
The Board of Supervisors this week agreed to raise fines for anyone who throws a football or a Frisbee on any beach in Los Angeles County.
In passing the 37-page ordinance on Tuesday, officials sought to outline responsibilities for law enforcement and other public agencies while also providing clarification on beach-goer activities that could potentially disrupt or even injure the public.
According to Lucy Kim, from the LA County Department of Beaches and Harbors, a first-time offender will have to pay a $100 fine. For a second offense, beach-goers will face a $200 fine. Three or more infractions within one year will result in a $500 fine, Kim said.
The updated rules now prohibit “any person to cast, toss, throw, kick or roll” any object other than a beach ball or volleyball “upon or over any beach” between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
Exceptions allow for ball-throwing in predesignated areas, when a person obtains a permit, or playing water polo “in or over the Pacific Ocean”.
However, during the winter off-season, the new rules will be relaxed.
Officials warned that any activities that could potentially harm “any person or property on or near the beach” should not be allowed during the peak summer season.
Your kids could also end up costing you big bucks: the ordinance also prohibits digging any hole deeper than 18 inches into the sand except where permission is granted for film and TV production services only.
It doesn't seem too far a stretch until the day surfing comes under the purview of this type of legislation. In a sense, I guess it already does (i.e. "black ball" beaches), but this seems like a broader application, allowing fines to be levied for "violations" occuring at any beach in the county.
Kinda seems like a way for law enforcement to be busily engaged in raising revenue by focusing on the hunt for law abiding citizens who inadvertently violate a technicality in the law (the article did say the law is 37 pages long!), while prosecution for blatantly criminal behavior gets put on a backburner.
Aloha crew,…Now our city council yesterday went in the other direction:
Ocean City, Md.,…from 27th Street to the Inlet (prime local surf areas), will allow horse riding on the beach-----“the horse manure, will mix in the ocean, and will not pose a challenge”…leaves a new meaning to the Ocean City/Surfrider partnership program of “Leave Only Footprints”.
RE surfing, many east coast beaches already close off most of the beach to surfing, allowing it only in small designated areas or during the off season.
