Belligerent Surfer Fined $1K for Ignoring Virus Closure

Newser ^ | March 30, 2020 | Evann Gastaldo

[L.A.Justice]

Much of California's coastline is closed amid the coronavirus pandemic—but on Saturday morning, a surfer who apparently really needed his fix was fined $1,000 for ignoring the rules, the Los Angeles Times reports. A Los Angeles County lifeguard at Manhattan Beach ordered the man to stay out of the water, to which he replied, per the Easy Reader: "Go ahead and arrest me." The lifeguard says the man then threw out some "colorful language" before heading into the waves. The lifeguard called his supervisor, who called police. A cop arrived with a code enforcement officer, who issued the citation.

[dfwgator]

I wish they all could be double-barrelled guns......

[Captain Compassion]

Code enforcement officer?

[trebb]

"The beach is our home, where we play and where we work. But it's for the common good and it's temporary."

Another "common good" argument - how many people was the dude getting close to? I bet they allow folks to walk their dogs...even if they don't need walking right now...

[L.A.Justice]

Code enforcement officer?
________________________________

I have seen the picture...He looks like the community service officer for the Manhattan Beach PD...I guess the cop could have given the ticket out himself. But, he let the community service officer do the job...He was standing near that police employee...To make sure that the surfer accepted the citation...

Manhattan Beach often hosts beach volleyball events...

[Lurker]

Stupid is supposed to hurt. In this case it hurt $1,000.00 worth.

L

[scan59]

Code enforcement officer? What an important person. Facists.

I know! What kind of town would hire someone to enforce city codes? It's your right to have a trashy, rat-infested home with tires and used oil containers in the front yard. Plumbing and electrical codes for new construction? Buncha facists trying to tell me, a contractor, that the plumbing I'm installing for others will leak sewage? The nerve!

Sincerely,

The vice mayor of a small town. We actually have a paid code enforcement officer on staff! I'll alert the council today!

[Lou L]

Who’s more at risk for contracting or spreading the virus, a lone surfer, enjoying a little sun and fresh air? Or someone at Target, walking amidst others who aren’t always 6 feet away, shopping for “essential” items and handling grocery products after other shoppers have touched them?

[moodyskeptic]

This was in Manhattan Beach, an expensive place to live. But the city left open the Greenbelt, which runs through the city and is a favorite for joggers and dog walkers. The beach is very big and there are no homes within 250 yards of the surf.

[SaveFerris]

What a hit by Nick Rivers!

Skeet Surfin’!

[dfwgator]

“And time permitting....Frank Sinatra!”

[SaveFerris]

Woohoo!

Back when Skeet Surfin' was the in thing to do!

[CharlesWayneCT]

We believe that surfing is allowed in Virginia. We “closed” the beaches, but allow you to fish and exercise on the beach, and surfing is definitely a form of exercise, and also meets the criteria for social distancing. If you are 6 feet from another surfer, you are doing it wrong.

[ViLaLuz]

I bought a house and was in the process of moving in when some neighbor reported me to code enforcement for having boxes on my front porch. That was the welcome to my neighborhood.

[ConservativeInPA]

The world would be a better place if neighbors helped one another instead of relying on the nanny state. It’s impossible to get away from code enforcement people. I used to do a lot of home improvement and it’s a pain in the rear end to wait for them, and I build better than what code requires. I pay taxes for that?

[matt04]

Case in point today from my experience. I went to the local Target to get some food this evening, while there I also picked up some paper and printer ink as work from home has increased the about of printing I have done. The lady behind me at checkout made some snide remark about the ChiCom Virus and why I was out shopping for “non-essentials.” I politely tied to say I need to print things for work at home but was cut off about “staying home and saving lives, lie the Governor said to do.”

I also saw some lefty Gen X types complain that the Governor of a neighboring state allowed chiropractors and optometrists to open, saying those were non-essential. What!? People on physical therapy need to keep up on treatment so recover, and what if someone breaks their glasses, has a vision problem, etc. just suffer or even have more or risk serious vision complications for life.

I also read someone who said the reason open space hiking areas should be closed is because what if a nurse sees someone out getting exercise and trying to relax while they spent 8-12 hours treating ChiCom Virus patients. I know a nurse who on their time off will go take a hike to try to get their mind off work.

I thought about it more, and I really don’t have a clue how sane people will ever reconcile with people like that in the future. I really don’t know how to, and that makes me sad. I really feel that these miserable panicked people who want every one to suffer and panic like they are will probably be end up even more lonely and more angry as people will remember and avoid them in the future

[mikey_hates_everything]

Oh yeah, I can imagine the increase in mental illness from this over what’s already in place, just look at the amount of TDS now. Society will be dealing with it all for years.