ALERT: Gov Scott signs anchoring ban bill!:
Starting July 1, 2016, it will be illegal to anchor at any time during the period between one-half hour after sunset and one-half hour before sunrise in the following public waterways….
Read more>>
Remember to vote against these legislators as they come up for ANY elections!
Nancy C Detert Senator — District 28
Senator Lizbeth Benacquisto Senator — District 30
Senator Bill Galvano - District 26
Representative Julio Gonzalez District 74 Sarasota County
Representative Matt Caldwell - District 79 (Sponsor of Bill)
Support the following Legislators: Representative Kenneth L. "Ken" Roberson District 75 Charlotte County
Update on FLORIDA anchoring
WRITE TO YOUR REPRESENTATIVES NOW (see Below)!
Remember how they vote when election time comes.
Click for example Letters to send:
Per Mike Ahart, Vessel anchoring legislation is scheduled for a
hearing on Wed, Feb. 24, 2016. Fl Senate Bill CS-1260, which would ban
overnight anchoring in several areas popular with cruising boaters in
Fort Lauderdale and Miami Beach, with some exceptions, is one of nine
bills currently on the agenda for a hearing….http://goo.gl/clGV2h .Remember to vote against these legislators as they come up for ANY elections!
Nancy C Detert Senator — District 28
Senator Lizbeth Benacquisto Senator — District 30
Senator Bill Galvano - District 26
Representative Julio Gonzalez District 74 Sarasota County
Representative Matt Caldwell - District 79 (Sponsor of Bill)
Support the following Legislators: Representative Kenneth L. "Ken" Roberson District 75 Charlotte County
Update on FLORIDA anchoring
WRITE TO YOUR REPRESENTATIVES NOW (see Below)!
Remember how they vote when election time comes.Click for example Letters to send:
Date Reported: Feb 3, 2016 Reported By: Mike Ahart, Waterway Guide News Editor Read More >>
UPDATE: Anchoring ban passes FL House subcommittee Jan 26!
This will help pave the wave for more legislation covering other areas. According to the bill text, “a person may not anchor or moor a vessel at any time between the hours from ½ hr after sunset to ½ hr before sunrise…. Read More >>
LAWMAKERS MAY BAN ANCHORING OF BOATS IN INTRACOASTAL WATERWAY Read More >>
UPDATE: The bill is scheduled for a hearing this Tuesday, January 26, 2016. A new bill introduced in the Florida State House of Representatives would ban overnight anchoring in several popular anchorages in Fort Lauderdale, Miami Beach, and Destin FL. House Bill 1051, to be entitled "An act relating to recreational boating zones," was filed by Rep. Matt Caldwell of North Fort Myers FL, who chairs the State Affairs Committee which held a anchoring restrictions workshop in Oct. 2015.
Contact info for BILL SPONSOR, Rep. Matt Caldwell (Dist 79):
Phone: (850) 717-5079 Email: matt.caldwell@myfloridahouse.gov
District Office :
Building A
15191 Homestead Road
Lehigh Acres, FL 33971-9749
Phone: (239) 694-0161
Capitol Office :
218 House Office Building
402 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1300
According to the bill text, "a person may not anchor or moor a vessel at any time between the hours from one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise in the following recreational boating zones:
The section of Middle River lying between Northeast 21st Court and the Intracoastal Waterway in Broward County. (Middle River is one of the very few viable anchorages for cruising-sized boats in the Fort Lauderdale area. At the public workshop (held by the State Affairs Committee of the Florida House of Representatives on October 8, 2015), Rep. George Moraitis, Jr. of Broward County (Ft. Lauderdale) stated that he planned to introduce a bill that would declare Middle River a "Water Recreation Area" where anchoring is prohibited. He said that he has constituents who complain that water skiers have no room due to the amount of boats anchored there – see related WaterwayGuide.com article: Anchoring setbacks and time limits discussed at Florida House.)
Sunset Lake in Miami-Dade County. (This Miami Beach anchorage is popular for cruisers waiting for a weather window to cross to the Bahamas, and in the past afforded easy access to Miami Beach for services and provisioning. It is adjacent to the residence of one of the most vocal advocates of anchoring bans in Miami Beach, who has anchored 30 small sailboats in Sunset Lake behind his house to restrict others from the ability to anchor there – see related WaterwayGuide.com article noted above. The City of Miami Beach recently passed an amendment to an ordinance which now makes it unlawful to tie a dinghy to the canal wall to visit the city, leaving only limited dinghy access – see related WaterwayGuide.com article: Miami Beach cracks down on dinghy access).
The sections of Biscayne Bay in Miami-Dade County lying between Rivo Alto Island and Di Lido Island, San Marino Island and San Marco Island, and San Marco Island and Biscayne Island. (This is another popular anchorage area for cruisers, and one section is adjacent to the residence of another vocal advocate of anchoring bans. These islands are connected by low causeways, and the anchorage areas are in no way well-suited for water-skiing – see related WaterwayGuide.com article noted above.)
Crab Island in Choctawhatchee Bay at the East Pass in Okaloosa County. (This is a popular party spot in Destin Harbor. In October 2015, Okaloosa County had requested to establish a vessel exclusion zone consisting of a 40 foot wide corridor through the area "to allow unobstructed access by emergency vehicles and vessels to provide services to protect the public," according to a notice from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) – see related WaterwayGuide.com article: Vessel exclusion zone ordinance requested for Destin FL party spot.)
The bill provides that "any person cited for a violation of any provision of this subsection shall be deemed to be charged with a noncriminal infraction, shall be cited for such an infraction, and shall be cited to appear before the county court. The civil penalty for any such infraction is $50, except as otherwise provided in this section. Any person who fails to appear or otherwise properly respond to a uniform boating citation shall, in addition to the charge relating to the violation of the boating laws of this state, be charged with the offense of failing to respond to such citation and, upon conviction, be guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083. A written warning to this effect shall be provided at the time such uniform boating citation is issued."
If enacted, the provisions would take effect July 1, 2016...... Read more from the Waterway guide site
Are you sitting back doing nothing to help send a message to our Florida Legislators? The proposed anchoring law will affect you and your friends in the way you are able to anchor. The trickle down effects of this legislation around the country are imminent. At minimum take 5 minutes and compose an email to your state legislator. Listed below are phone numbers, mail, and email addresses for your convenience. Check the district map links if you are not sure who to contact. This is the time for you to get involved and contact your legislator to know how you feel.
For more info click the following:
House Bill 1051 >>
SSCA releases Florida anchoring rights position >>
2014 Anchoring and Mooring Public Survey Results and Analysis >>
Anchoring Away Government Regulations and Rights of Navigations in Florida >>
SENATORS Districts Maps
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| Nancy C Detert Senator — District 28 Email: detert.nancy.web@flsenate.gov |
DISTRICT OFFICE: 417 Commercial Court Suite D Venice, FL 34292 Phone: 941-480-3547 TALLAHASSEE OFFICE: 416 Senate Office Building 404 South Monroe Street Tallahassee, FL 32399-1100 Phone: 850-487-5028 |
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| Senator Lizbeth Benacquisto Senator — District 30 Email: benacquisto.lizbeth.web@ flsenate.gov |
District Office 2310 First Street Unit 305 Fort Myers, FL 33901 (239) 338-2570 Tallahassee Office 326 Senate Office Building 404 South Monroe Street Tallahassee, FL 32399-1100 (850) 487-5030 |
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| Senator Bill Galvano email: galvano.bill.web@ flsenate.gov District 26 |
District Office 1023 Manatee Avenue West Suite 201 Bradenton, FL 34205 (941) 741-3401 Tallahassee Office 330 Senate Office Building 404 South Monroe Street Tallahassee, FL 32399-1100 (850) 487-5026 |
House of Representatives Districts map
| Representative Kenneth L. "Ken" Roberson District 75 Charlotte County Email: Ken.Roberson@myfloridahouse.gov |
Capitol Office 214 House Office Building 402 South Monroe Street Tallahassee, FL 32399-1300 Phone: (850) 717-5075 District Office Suite B 17825 Murdock Circle Port Charlotte, FL 33948-4090 Phone: (941) 613-0914 |
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| Representative Julio Gonzalez District 74 Sarasota County Email: Julio.Gonzalez@myfloridahouse.gov |
Capitol Office 1301 The Capitol 402 South Monroe Street Tallahassee, FL 32399-1300 Phone: (850) 717-5074 District Office Suite 284 333 Tamiami Trail South Venice, FL 34285-2441 Phone: (941) 480-3560 |