March 4, 2024 UPDATE

Where to start? First of all, thank you to the many CruisersNet readers who emailed and/or phoned the Florida senators who were examining Senate Bill 192.
The good news is, the 200 yard exclusion zone from Miami Beach was removed from the legislation. An attempt in the companion house bill to add a portion of the area was also removed a few days later.
In other words, you were heard loud and clear, and I pass on to you the gratitude of the residents at Sunset Harbor in Miami Beach.
So much for the win. There are a considerable number of other issues at hand. The biggest issue is that back in December, the city removed the dinghy dock on Collins Canal by the Publix, removing the one dock cruisers had available to get ashore for work, for food, for doctor’s appointments, etc. The only other dock, the police dock as it is called, is time limited to 20 minutes.
It’s possible that the removal of the dock was illegal, done without permit and that is being looked into now.
The day following the defeat of SB 192’s onerous 200 yard provision, the City of Miami Beach towed three dinghies away. One was from the police dock for being tied up over 20 minutes, the other two were from the Collins Canal.
The owners had to pay $600 to SeaTow for their return.
I have called on all cruisers to boycott SeaTow for this betrayal of cruisers. We give them a LOT of money, and then they do this? If you have a SeaTow policy, phone them and let them know you are not going to renew with them because of the behaviour of their franchisee in Miami Beach.
There are other companies that we can give our money to, such as Boat US, who are supportive of the removal of the 200 yard exclusion.
There is also a possibility that Sea Tow broke the law by removing the two dinghies on the canal. Again, that is being looked into. It may be that the removal constituted theft. If so, the local boaters will be asking that charges be laid against the individuals concerned.
Stay tuned for more. This battle is a long, long way from being over with.

Wally Moran

WE HAVE A FIGHT ON OUR HANDS

Florida is about to pass HB 437, which removes the right to anchor overnight in all of Miami Beach. It also creates a situation in which a boater must prove to the police that s/he has not violated the 45 day provisions of the Anchoring Limitation Areas that are throughout the state – NOT just in Miami Beach. That puts you at risk of a violation in Hollywood, Dania, Melbourne, Jacksonville, just to name a few of the ALAs. @everyone

You can read the changes to the legislation here – https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2024/437/BillText/c2/PDF

The bill is due for a vote on Tuesday, January 23, so if we want to stop this, we have to act now. Here’s what I’m asking you to do: 1) Email the sponsor and co-sponsors of the bill and tell them that you object to the bill. Emails are listed below. Your reasons are as follows – The bill creates unsafe conditions for boaters who are seeking a safe anchorage; There is very limited dockage in the Miami Beach area; The bill appears to support the Miami Beach City Council’s actions to eliminate local boaters and boaters at anchor, rather than address the needs of all Florida boaters, as well as the needs of visitors to the state. Next, the bill violates the concept of “presumed innocence” by requiring a boater to prove that they have not violated the law, instead of the officer having to prove that you did. This is a direct violation of the US Constitution and the Bill of Rights.  

2) Phone each of the bill sponsors and co-sponsors and repeat your objections to the bill. Insist that the legislator contact you by phone to discuss this. Phone numbers are included with the emails. Be sure to phone BOTH the local office and the Tallahassee office numbers. Be certain to remind them that they are facing an election this year and that you have lots and lots of boating friends who are not happy with this legislation.  

3) Get everyone you know who is a boater to do this. If you are not a Florida boater, then make your comment as someone who will be coming to the state, or has previously come to the state, on a boat. Make it clear that you find these new proposed laws unfriendly to boating tourism.  

4 DO IT NOW. Time is of the essence.  Here are the emails for the sponsors, and for the senators office backing the Senate bill as well. Also, the phone numbers for both the constituency and Tallahassee offices.  

 

JuanCarlos.Porras@myfloridahouse.gov – (305) 252-4307 and (850) 717-5119

Fabian.Basabe@myfloridahouse.gov – (305) 993-1914 and (850) 717-5106

alina.garcia@myfloridahouse.gov – (305) 663-2065 and (850) 717-5115

Karen.Pittman@myfloridahouse.gov – (813) 202-3345 and (850) 717-5065

garcia.ileana.web@flsenate.gov – (305) 442-6841 and (850) 487-5036