Florida beachgoers caught in ridiculous private property dispute
Beachfront property owners in Dune Allen Beach did not hesitate to call the police as soon as they suspected that members of the public were trespassing on their property.
Florida's "customary use" law gives owners of beachfront property the power to "claim the beach in front of their homes as private property, up to the mean high water mark, or wet sand".
The law has been difficult to implement, and the Turgeon family were the latest to be caught up in a dispute. While lounging on the sand on a beach in Dune Allen, the New Orleans family was surprised to be approached by two officers of the law.
The two police officers informed the Turgeons that they were violating the customary use law (also known as House Bill 631) because they were sitting on the wet sand outside of a private property.
Feeling that the complaint was arbitrary, the family entered into an argument with the police officers. At one point, the police officers can be seen drawing lines in the sand to indicate where the members of the public are allowed to sit. As if to emphasise the fact that the enforcement of the law required ridiculous measures, waves came in and wiped away the unofficial demarcation.
The Turgeon family moved away from the stretch of beach eventually, with Leah Turgeon expressing no hard feelings towards the officers: "He was nice about it, but it's definitely a hassle. Now we have to move all of our stuff."
Until homeowners and law enforcement agencies can agree about how to put House Bill 631 into action, it seems beachgoers in Florida will have to be wary of being arrested each time they lay down their beach towels.