Riviera Beach, Florida

[mad4wrecks]

Anyone know why this beach is so special that metal detecting is not allowed? I mean, it is certainly not in a particularly nice area of Palm Beach county, it is not a pristine or historic beach, and yet, for some reason, they don't want folks digging little holes on their beach.

The strange thing is, they allow you to walk down the beach into the water and detect in the water.

I walked right past the lifeguard tower with my detector as I entered the beach. No one stopped me. I saw no signs prohibiting metal detecting. However, after 20 minutes of searching the "beach captain" rolls up on his dune buggy and orders me off the beach. Funny thing is, in that 20 minutes I had done a great community service by removing about a dozen pieces of junk metal off their beach.

Any other similar spots off limits in Palm Beach county?

 

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[steve from ohio]

The old farts in that city did not want to have anyone enjoy themselves on Their beach, so the city council passed an ordinance banning metal detecting.

Riviera Beach is the only city that I know of in Florida that bans metal detecting on the beach. You can't detect in the water due to the agreement with Mel Fisher's company and the state of Florida.

The city of Riviera Beach should be avoided. It has many laws on the books like the baggy pants law that outlaws baggy pants. If you like to wear loose fitting (baggy) Bermuda shorts, you could face a fine and imprisonment.
It is also a speed trap. Seems they like to rake visitors over the coals to get money for their city. Sound like a bunch of Nazi's in that city.

Just tell the city that you will be spending your money in other parts of Florida that allows beach detecting.

Avoid Riviera Beach Florida at all costs. Not a very friendly place to visit.

 

[mad4wrecks]

Thanks for your reply Steve, just one note of disagreement when you wrote:

You can't detect in the water due to the agreement with Mel Fisher's company and the state of Florida.

This is true only in the Mel Fisher Center Inc. admiralty/lease areas. These are very specific and well defined boundaries and basically run from Melbourne Beach in Brevard county south to the area around the St. Lucie nuclear power plants.

 

[finderzzs]

I was there yesterday and there are several Big signs with the beach "rules" that clearly state NO METAL DETECTORS. Yes I talked to the captain also, and I hunted in the water. I saw the Cops escort 4 guys off of the dry sand.. Who knows why Riviera Bch is so pathetic though. I was told I could be given a citation, see they don't own the water or wet sand so they cannot enforce it there. And mad4wrecks is wrong about the Fisher lease, it doesn't apply to Singer Island.

 

[aquanut]

Hey Mad,
As far as I know all beaches, (except those under federal control ie: national parks, NASA, military, research stations and the like ) are public access and not under the control or whims of local yahoos. Correct me if I am wrong.
Aquanut (I also posted this in Florida Discussions)

 

[dave-enc]

guys this isnt new I grew up in Palm Beach County and I can remember as far back as taking my daughters to the beach there back in 1998 they had it posted on the rules board by the board walk I was not detecting there at the time but I remember even back in the late 70's you would only detect until the life guards came on the beach then it was time to go. and back then it wasnt posted
hh
dave+bobbie

 

[JP]

It's sad but I feel that more and more counties are going to start banning metal detecting here in Florida. In Pasco County there are rules at each of the beaches. Some of them you can't detect at and others only in certain designated areas and within certain hours.

Last time I was in Clearwater I couldn't believe how many were in the drysand area when I left. I drove by a couple hours later and there were even more there. The tourists are going to start to complain and we will be banned from that beach too. Let's face it, there are more spending money to be there then us that detect there.

Last month in Sarasota I saw more people with detectors then people with swim suits. The beach was so full that the parking lot was filled up by 9 am. I saw a few weaving in and out of sun bathers. These were the same places that were heavily hunted in the night and early in the morning. If someone just lost something or one is digging near someone they are going to be watching and probably claim whatever was dug.

Please people, hit the beach early morning or late in the afternoon. I've talked with several of you that have told me that people on the beach complain about people with metal detectors, people leaving holes or garbage that they dug up or someone passing a metal detector or scoop near them. Even though I'm sure almost all of us cover our holes there are a few out there that don't or after recovering a beer can at two feet decide they are going to leave that prize on top.

I'm not trying to crash anybody's party here but just saying what is reality.

 

[mad4wrecks]

finderzzs wrote: And mad4wrecks is wrong about the Fisher lease, it doesn't apply to Singer Island.

Excuse me, where exactly did I say that in my post? I never said it applied to Singer Island-just the opposite in fact. I was correct with my response, as I am a Fisher subcontractor.

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

It has many laws on the books like the baggy pants law that outlaws baggy pants. If you like to wear loose fitting (baggy) Bermuda shorts, you could face a fine and imprisonment.
Avoid Riviera Beach Florida at all costs. Not a very friendly place to visit.

The laws on no metal detecting suck big time, but as for the baggy pants law, if the waist is hanging down around the mid thighs I'm for the law. I'm tired of seeing a bunch of street punks walking around with their pants hanging down around their knees and a$$ hanging out trying to imitate the inmates in prison, the dredges of society....

 

[Moe (fl)]

We are lucky to still be allowed to detect in Florida beaches! Other states are making it much more difficult. I am always covering holes from other detectorists. Some of these guys are experienced Thrs but don't cover their holes if no one is watching. They leave the beach looking like a minefield. It is a matter of time before the State will restrict metal detecting on popular beaches. The only reason it has not happened already is because Florida is a vacation destination and many tourists bring detectors along. Please be a cool citizen and cover your holes!

 

[JoeSWFla]

Have to agree with the others.Stay away from the people on the beach.They
come to relax and don't want someone in arms reach of them digging and
detecting.Reminds me of those who bring boom boxes to the beach and
disturb everyone else.A few bad apples will get us all banned.Hope eveyone
with a detector learns the MDers code of ethics.That and a little common
sense and manners could save our hobby.JMHO. HH Joe

 

[ramfan]

this needs to be back up top...... be courteous this summer! I just started in this gr8 hobby and want to keep it up.

Darrell

 

[FISHEYE]

Search the Florida Statutes

Search Results for: "metal detecting on florida public beaches"
(0 returns)


Tom,

Get a lawyer and fight this.The DEP controls florida public beaches.Not cities and small towns.

 

[aquanut]

What Fisheye says!
Aquanut

 

[mad4wrecks]

I wasn't arrested or hassled, I just think the law is crap. There is all manner of craziness happening on that beach. In fact, the reason I was there that particular day was because it was the day after "Spring Bling"......look it up.

Why metal detecting was singled out to be banned is quite bizzare to me.

It will take a bunch of like minded TH'ers to get the law changed or one really pissed off person who gets arrested. Riviera Beach is the town that recently had a judge rule its "baggy pants" law unconstitutional. Some bro got arrested for showing his Hanes in public and decided to fight city hall.

Besides, as you know, I do 90% of my detecting underwater.

 

[FISHEYE]

Keep your eyes glued to the TV tonight,we got tornadoes comming in from the east coast.

got 2 tornadoes comming towards where i live from the mims area.

and beach erosion!

got a sail boat washed up on bethune beach earlier.im sure it will be sanded in by morning.

http://www.wunderground.com/wunderm...=0&svr=0&cams=0&sat=0&riv=0&mm=0&hur=0&fire=0

Tornado Warning
2009-05-20 00:28:26 EDT until
2009-05-20 00:30:00 EDT

1220 am EDT Wed may 20 2009

...A Tornado Warning remains in effect until 1230 am EDT for
northwestern Brevard...southeastern Volusia and northeastern Seminole
counties...

At 1220 am EDT...National Weather Service Doppler radar continued to
indicate a tornado. This tornado was located near Turnbull...or near
Mims...moving northwest at 35 mph.

The tornado will be near...
Scottsmoor by 1225 am EDT...
Maytown and 7 miles east of Lake Harney by 1230 am EDT...

Precautionary/preparedness actions...

Heavy rainfall may obscure this tornado. Take cover now!

 

[Willee]

Re: Save our rights on the beaches ...

If we do not act now sooner or later ALL beaches will be closed to metal detecting.

Why not beat them to the punch!

Get your town or city councils to adopt a permit system allowing them control the people that can detect on the beaches before they pass a law banning it.
They could then set times that detecting would be allowed and make rules about leaving junk and holes.
They could revoke permits of offenders and cite those caught detecting with no permit.
Most government body's would welcome a system that would bring in a small revenue and allow them some sort of control over this activity.

I know ... it sucks ... but it is better to get a permit to hunt than to be banned altogether.


Also, do you think Fisher would give permission to those who asked, to detect in the water 6' deep or less at public beaches?
I doubt they are interested in the things we are looking for wading in the water with our detectors.
In return we could agree to turn over to them any item of antiquity that came from wrecked vessels should we be so lucky to find some.
Really ... a guy wading in the water picking up clad coins and modern jewelery dont seem like much of a threat to what they are trying to recover.

 

[FLauthor]

I guess they don't like Tourist Dollars then. I wouldn't spend a nickle in that town or even drive through it. Every Detectorist visiting Florida should find the Chamber of Commerce email address and send them a note declaring just that. Your tourist dollars will go to their neighbors in Juno Beach or Palm Beach. Hit them where they live.

 

[FISHEYE]

Im willing to bet that the city of Riviera Beach doesnt have a law or any rules banning metal detecting on the public beach.Im sure if someone went to the palm beach county courthouse asking about the ban and the signs,you wont find anyone that knows or anything on the books about it.One way to enforce a law is to have signs,no signs?There are rules and laws in florida about posted signs.Like for example,tresspassing signs.under Florida Statute, section 588.10, a property owner must provide proper notice to all parties that may enter the property. All gates, fence corners, and all boundaries that lay along waterways must have posted notice of proper size and composition. The postings can be no more than 500 feet apart. If no notice of trespassing is posted on a piece of property and the party cannot know who owns the land, the party may not be able to be assumed to be a trespasser.If they arent worded right or the letters on the signs arent a certain size they are not legal.Also if the owners name isnt on the sign its not legal.Also if a beach patrol officer or cop asks you to get off the beach for metal detecting.Challenge them.Ask them to show you the written law in thier florida issued law handbook.Every beach cop and law enforcement officer has one.

 

[billinstuart]

(7) No metal detector shall be permitted upon the public beaches of the city except for the search of lost objects of value between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. upon approval of the city manager after written application is made by the person losing such object of value, stating therein the approximate date, time and location when and where the loss occurred and describing the object sought to be found and its value.

This is article 1, Section 13-1 (7) of the Riviera Beach Municipal code. As expected from that bassackwards crime ridden slum of a town, it's kinda ambiguous in its' wording. How much control can a community exert over property that belongs to the state?