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Old 12-03-2004, 01:47 PM
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ricki ricki is offline
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Default Kiteboarder Arrested - ACCESS THREATENED.

Complaints have been on the increase in Lauderdale-By-The-Sea (LBTS) in SE Florida, USA about kiteboarders.

Kiteboarders have been riding too close to shore, jumping near bathers, passing kites overhead of bystanders and generally working to lose access through irresponsible riding practices. It should be noted that the problems seem to be caused by only a few kiteboarders in this small seaside town. Most kiteboarders are said to be fairly responsible when riding.

Complaints from residents have been coming into the Mayor, City Commissioners, Sheriffs Office and others.

A young kiteboarder was reportedly riding in and among bathers about a week ago. Sheriffs deputies responded and tried to call the rider into shore. The rider essentially played "keep away" with the deputies by riding in and out from shore. Apparently this has been repeated in the past by other riders as well.

Eventually the kiteboarder rode north, beached and apparently engaged in a foot race with the deputies. The kiteboarder lost. He was arrested and placed in jail.

Kiteboarding, windsurfing, kayaking, surfing and other activities MAY be completely banned in this township as a result of irresponsible riding by only a few reckless riders. Some parties in the Township government would LIKE to avoid this happening.

This sort of situation has happened before around the State and in other areas. Concerned riders have responded through the FKA or independently in Key West, Miami, Hollywood, Ft. Lauderdale, Pompano Beach, Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Jupiter, Palm Beach, Jacksonville, Cocoa Beach, Destin, Tampa, Naples and more. Meetings were held, issues identified, guidelines prepared and distributed and access was restored or maintained in many cases.

A similar process is currently underway in LBTS. It is planned to have a mass meeting of kiteboarders in the area to discuss the issues and the guidelines once they have been formulated. Updates will be provided here as they develop along with the scheduling of the meeting.

Launching and landing away from bystanders and staying beyond the swim buoys will figure in the guidelines, as frequently in the past to reduce complaints. It appears likely that compliance will not necessarily be voluntary in this case as has often been the situation in the past. If we wish to continue to ride off LBTS it may be necessary to follow the guidlines or risk arrest as has already happened.

AVOIDING THIS SORT OF PROBLEM AND MAINTAINING ACCESS ISN'T THAT HARD TO DO. PROMOTING RESPONSIBLE KITEBOARDING IS THE KEY.

Take care of your access wherever you ride. Access to this sport is too good to lose through stupidity or indifference.
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