Countering Public Officials Who Respect Neither Free Speech Nor Property Rights

Forbes ^ | February 25, 2017 | George Leef

[reaganaut1]

Northwest Florida is largely inhabited by conservative folk who believe in private property and limited government under the Constitution. Nevertheless, officials in Walton County have been hammering both the First Amendment and property rights in an effort to gain control over private beach areas along the Gulf of Mexico.

One family is fed up with the government’s bullying. They’re fighting back in court.

Edward and DeLanie Goodwin purchased beachfront property in 1971 and built a house on the land in 1978. They own up to the Mean High Water Line; beyond that, the beach is public property. Thus, they own some dry sand beach area and use it for family enjoyment. They have also planted vegetation there to help protect and stabilize the dunes.

Unfortunately, some people who use the public beach don’t respect private property; that’s especially true during Spring Break when thousands of college students flock to the Panhandle beaches. The Goodwins have had to deal with littering, loud parties, and trespass on their land, even including entry into their house. Also, the county has driven its vehicles across their property.

Therefore, they put up signs to indicate their property boundary.

You wouldn’t think doing that could be illegal in the United States, but high-handed officials in Walton County, like many others across the country, don’t really care about the limits on their authority. In June of 2016, the county enacted an ordinance that bans all “obstructions” on the beach, including any sort of sign.

[reg45]

Does the anti obstruction ordinance include land mines?

[keving]

Easements always vex me 🤔

[rstrahan]

Hotels and resorts routinely have signs showing private beach lines around here.