Miami Marine Police: Harassment or Legitimate?
I returned back to my boat today to find this notice. Evidently the Marine Patrol stopped by all the boats in our neighborhood, threatening vessel impoundment in less than 24 hours if we do not move our boats. However, it looks like this notice they left me says within thirty (30) days. I was told by some neighbors that the claim made by the Marine Police is that we are anchored over city owned bottom. According to the note at the top, I “must removed vessel to avoid towing”.
There are plenty of documents explaining the new anchoring regulations put into effect in 2006, this being one of them. According to these laws, Florida makes a clear distinction between liveaboards and cruisers. Cruising vessels may anchor anywhere – within reason; for example, not in a mooring field, not in a channel, not within 500′ of a fuel dock, etc…
This Boat US document explains it very clearly. Anchoring Information for Florida Cruisers
This notice appears to be an attempt to get the 5 or 6 cruising boats out of this anchorage and into the new and 50% empty, city owned mooring field, a 1/4 mile to the south, at a rate of $21/day or $340/month.
To the Marine Patrol’s credit, there were two boats anchored in the channel. As neighbors, we can only suggest to those cruisers that they move their boats, we can’t force them. However, for their carelessness and negligence, we all pay the price.
Right now, I’m still anchored here. We’ll see how this plays out tomorrow…
That is such a load of bollocks.
Where are you currently landing the dink?
Any chance you can reason with the Marine Patrol to see if they respond positively to your being a touristy cruising boat and not an unseaworthy liveaboard hulk polluting the anchorage and just freeloading off the city or blocking the channel. More importantly, make sure you … or neighboring boats in the anchorage aren’t blocking ‘the view’ or dumping trash at the expense of a taxpaying influential dirt-dweller.
Seems like you need to use this info:
“If you have been forced to “move it along” while in navigation or gunkholing in Florida, please let Dickerson know where and when it happened. He can be reached at ddickerson@nmma.org or at 202-737-9761″. Also, From what I read, I would call the officer and let him know your a cruiser and not a liveaboard. See what he says….if he speaks English well enough.
Good luck…what a PITA.
Wow what a PITA! We were only in Miami for 24 hours so we didn’t hit any trouble there, but I know that there were issues in Ft Lauderdale with the same kind of thing.
Good luck!
Big Brother likes to control people.
Ben,
It is harassment pure and simple; a thinly veiled attempt at forcing the use of their over-priced moorings. Sarasota attempted the same nonsense. I would go to the administrative hearing with the Florida law citations. In case you haven’t yet found these:
http://www.hisc.org/Cruising/AnchoringRights.pdf
http://www.marconews.com/news/2009/jun/15/marco-ends-two-year-court-battle-thwart-boat-ancho/
Good luck and please let us know what happens.
David
Sorry buddy for the hassle, but yeah as always they like to put their thumbs down on the people who are not following the norm. I would schedule the court date and bring the documents showing their wrong and let them learn your not gonna take their shit.
best of luck
deryk
Cutlass and flintlocks! Prepare to repel all boarders!
One sailing blog I read calls these people ‘Boat Nazis’. Give some people a little power…
I’m going to print out the attachment you provided and store it on our boat as we would like to head to Florida within the year.
Good Luck and keep us posted.
FWC once told my British friend on his British flagged boat, that if he spent more than three months in FL, he had to register his boat there! HOW DUMB IS THAT? ‘Attention all terrorists, if you want to get legal in the US, just live on a boat in FL for three months. FWC says so.’
“Must Removed Vessel.” No wonder they can’t understand their own laws. They can’t even grasp basic grammar.
Welcome to the world of derelicts, which is how anyone on a boat is thought of nowadays. They’re just jealous because they’re stuck living on land!
You do have to register after 90 days, but if your own state registration is valid you don’t display the Florida registration. If your own state registration expires then you have to display the Florida registration sticker on the port forward side of your vessel. You can register at any county property appraiser’s office. It is about $50.00 to register my boat (at 29 ft and 9000#).
Fascists. This is extortion and harassment. I hate my country.
Hi Ben,
Congrats on following through with your boat and living your dream. And thanks for sharing….your repairs and sailing adventures are all very interesting!
Could you share a little more on the history of the boat:
- Year manufactured
- Previous owners and how used (I think I saw something about it being out of water for ten years or so?)
- About how much did you pay for it
- What worked (if anything) when you first got it
thanks!
Skip
It’s a real shame to hear that the local municipalities continue to unlawfully harass respectible cruisers down there in Florida. I’ve been planning my FL venture by sailboat for next winter and certainly hope I don’t run into this kind of thing. Such can take the gem out of your doughnut and leave a you with a bitter taste. I remember reading one account that a gentleman was abruptly awoke in the middle of the night via pounding on his hull by a “water nazi” while achored LEGALLY, and threatened to the extent that his boat would be “dragged upon the rocks” should he not depart immediately! This guy had to weigh anchor in the middle of the night in unfamiliar waters putting his boat and his family’s safety at risk. As much as enjoy Florida by land, I know I’ll love by water. But if I am subjected to perpetual harassement by unconstitutional water fascists, I will indefinitely spend the thousands of dollars in my vacation budget in the Bahamas.