Hey guys just wanted to see if anyone else has experienced something similar to my run in with the local council...
Prior to this i honestly thought us surfers could only be advised/warned but not forced to leave the water by law..
So a few weeks ago now between trigg and scarborough (perth metro beaches) i was surfing with 3 others when the beach shark alarm was sounded, (the channel 7 chopper was hovering over the water a couple km up the coast at mettams pool) so i figured i was obviously in no imminent danger and decided to stay out. A beach inspector then showed up in his car advising there was a shark up the coast and that the beach was closed so any surfers must exit the water (over his loudspeaker).
The other surfers then paddled to a peak down the beach and i headed in to an inside reform bank that was breaking onto the sand (i surely thought i could surf the shorey until they reopened the beach). After surfing a few waves onto the sand i was then told by the beach inspector over his loudspeaker that he would call the police if i didnt get out and said i was going to be fined. As soon as i exit the water the beach inspector is in wait and stands tall over me telling me that "im not going anywhere" and presents a $250 fine form and asks for my details. I argue that a shark down the coast is obviously not an imminent threat and that the idea of being fined for something like this is just ridiculous especially as there was still other surfers in the water down the beach. I declined giving my details to write up the fine and started walking back to my car. (i figured that the beach inspector may have realised the stupidness of the situation as initially he didnt follow me). Anyway as i am driving off i see him in the carpark with phone ready snapping a pic of my number plate. $250 fine in the mail 2 weeks later.....just wow.
Has anybody else had a similar situation? Wondering whether or not i should lodge an appeal (anybody out there with some legal background that could help?) I Can put up some pics of the fine if needed
Cheers :)
This is stupid. You're a surfer, you know the risk posed by sharks. You're not endangering anyone. When they close the beach due to dangerous big surf, many surfers still go out, accepting the calculated risk, and I never hear of them being fined.
Do divers get fined when they are diving and come across a shark. What the hell happens to the fishermen when they hall one into the boat.
But i do understand the stress of the emergency and volunteer services go through when they need to pull mangle people out of the water then have to notify their victims family that they could recover 75% of the body. That is often forgotten....those who have to pick up the pieces!
Good luck dealing with the City of Stirling (I think that's who it would be?) they are a mob of a-holes.
My missus got a parking fine from them though the mail, we worked out it from where she parked every day for work and only by luck she still had the actual parking voucher for that day as well as proof of payment via credit card statement. CoS still refused to withdraw the fine after weeks of arguing and countless emails and phone calls. It was only by persistence that it was pushed to someone higher up who withdrew the ticket straight away, they even commented that they could see on there system her credit card was used every day to buy a parking ticket..
If you do dispute it ignore the fact there were other surfers out it would be irrelevant, you couldn't hear or understand what the beach inspector was saying might be a better argument and be persistent, the people who receive and deal with these dispute seem to have no common sense or compassion.
I reckon you'll be battling to get it withdrawn but give them hell anyway, make a nuisance of yourself, sounds stupid to get a fine for that
I'd say you have just been protected from your own stupidity TBH man? why should it be someone else job to make sure you come home to your family? 
The reason for the action is of course not because you were putting your safety at risk, which you weren't, but because you were not doing as you were told.
Get used to it, this is just the thin end of the wedge.
It's bad for the planet for surfers to be allowed to go out when it is sharky. The surfer may say "I know the risks, If I get eaten don't take it out on the shark. " But that's no good because when you're gone you can't defend the shark. Your dead body will just fuel the drum line argument. For the sake of the sharks, for the sake of the planet, yes fine them.
Select to expand quotegoofy said..
Good luck dealing with the City of Stirling (I think that's who it would be?) they are a mob of a-holes.
My missus got a parking fine from them though the mail, we worked out it from where she parked every day for work and only by luck she still had the actual parking voucher for that day as well as proof of payment via credit card statement. CoS still refused to withdraw the fine after weeks of arguing and countless emails and phone calls. It was only by persistence that it was pushed to someone higher up who withdrew the ticket straight away, they even commented that they could see on there system her credit card was used every day to buy a parking ticket..
If you do dispute it ignore the fact there were other surfers out it would be irrelevant, you couldn't hear or understand what the beach inspector was saying might be a better argument and be persistent, the people who receive and deal with these dispute seem to have no common sense or compassion.
I reckon you'll be battling to get it withdrawn but give them hell anyway, make a nuisance of yourself, sounds stupid to get a fine for that
haha ah yeah it is city of stirling 
, had a feeling it would be a tough appeal with them..
Select to expand quotemitchupc said..
Hey guys just wanted to see if anyone else has experienced something similar to my run in with the local council...
Prior to this i honestly thought us surfers could only be advised/warned but not forced to leave the water by law..
So a few weeks ago now between trigg and scarborough (perth metro beaches) i was surfing with 3 others when the beach shark alarm was sounded, (the channel 7 chopper was hovering over the water a couple km up the coast at mettams pool) so i figured i was obviously in no imminent danger and decided to stay out. A beach inspector then showed up in his car advising there was a shark up the coast and that the beach was closed so any surfers must exit the water (over his loudspeaker).
The other surfers then paddled to a peak down the beach and i headed in to an inside reform bank that was breaking onto the sand (i surely thought i could surf the shorey until they reopened the beach). After surfing a few waves onto the sand i was then told by the beach inspector over his loudspeaker that he would call the police if i didnt get out and said i was going to be fined. As soon as i exit the water the beach inspector is in wait and stands tall over me telling me that "im not going anywhere" and presents a $250 fine form and asks for my details. I argue that a shark down the coast is obviously not an imminent threat and that the idea of being fined for something like this is just ridiculous especially as there was still other surfers in the water down the beach. I declined giving my details to write up the fine and started walking back to my car. (i figured that the beach inspector may have realised the stupidness of the situation as initially he didnt follow me). Anyway as i am driving off i see him in the carpark with phone ready snapping a pic of my number plate. $250 fine in the mail 2 weeks later.....just wow.
Has anybody else had a similar situation? Wondering whether or not i should lodge an appeal (anybody out there with some legal background that could help?) I Can put up some pics of the fine if needed
Cheers :)
The problem is you have been given instruction to get out of the water. When you stay in the water, it makes it hard for the authorities to monitor the water. Next time just get out of the water and you won't be fined.. 
People may say its your choice to stay out, BUT what if you do get attacked Someone has to risk their life to help you, that person then has to witness that, kids people will also be affected heavily for life because of your stupidity, authorities will then may go destroy the animal, just get out and make their job easier.. 
Tell them you had a Great White Onya Bike device and you where trying to test it .
On the flip side how would you feel if a large shark was seen near you in the surf, and they chose not to bother informing you, as they figured you may not get out anyway..
Holy crapola.
Those of you defending the issuing of the fine. Wow.
I bet your farts hardly make a sound, as you do seem happy to take it up the rear for anything the 'authorities' want to give it to you for.
Justifiable to fine someone for surfing, while a chopper was watching a shark, and hence marking its position, A COUPLE OF KMS UP THE COAST???
Madness!!! And you think this ok??!!!!
Don't give us the 'oh the poor rescue workers will be traumatized' rubbish.
I'm sure it's not a joy to deal with a shark bitten corpse.
But guess what, that's exactly the sort of duties the rescue workers have signed up for, doesn't make it any easier for them, but they know it's a possibility.
The job description doesn't read, 'wanted, rescue worker to place bandaids on small childrens' stubbed toes'.
Gimmie a break.
Now, please answer this, those of you in support of the fines.
Dropping 5km 'apparently' saves lives on the road - so from now on, those caught doing 5km over the speed limit, gets a $250 fine.
You know those 5km are crucial and can make the difference in everyone being safer.
Would you support this?
Select to expand quotejbshack said...
On the flip side how would you feel if a large shark was seen near you in the surf, and they chose not to bother informing you, as they figured you may not get out anyway..
Strawman much?
Yes, it's jb!
Being informed and allowed to make your own choice is the debate here, not the tripe you just sprouted.
Dunno about you fellas, but I have a pretty hard time understanding anyone when my ears are full of water.
What makes it worse is you're paying that guys wages through your tax!
We don't have enough "real" problems here, so we have to invent problems to keep these drop kicks in jobs.
Pisses you off!
Meanwhile in Perth there are over 17 000 hits of meth per day.
You were fined because you were an easy revenue raising middle class Australian who they know will pay the fine.
Select to expand quotekiterboy said..
Now, please answer this, those of you in support of the fines.
Dropping 5km 'apparently' saves lives on the road - so from now on, those caught doing 5km over the speed limit, gets a $250 fine.
You know those 5km are crucial and can make the difference in everyone being safer.
Would you support this?
Ok i will answer this,,but first.
will i still get fined for dropping 5km before tailgating and riding my motorbike in the rain full of meth.
and will that fine have anything to do with this post.
Id ring up today tonight dude he cant fine you you may have a sharkshield on etc landmark case there is no clear signage of the penalty etc fkn bs wanabe police tell us about the beach inspector?is he fisheries ? Or a ****whit of council with a bighead thinks his **** dont stink. Who ever it is he has no right to fine you
Select to expand quotesaltiest1 said...
Nanny fuc#^ng state.
Nanny state, definitely, quickly becoming a nancy state.
Select to expand quoteCobra said...kiterboy said..
Now, please answer this, those of you in support of the fines.
Dropping 5km 'apparently' saves lives on the road - so from now on, those caught doing 5km over the speed limit, gets a $250 fine.
You know those 5km are crucial and can make the difference in everyone being safer.
Would you support this?
Ok i will answer this,,but first.
will i still get fined for dropping 5km before tailgating and riding my motorbike in the rain full of meth.
and will that fine have anything to do with this post.
How about you have a bit of a rethink and write what you want to say a bit more legibly. Cheers.
Select to expand quotekiterboy said..Cobra said...kiterboy said..
Now, please answer this, those of you in support of the fines.
Dropping 5km 'apparently' saves lives on the road - so from now on, those caught doing 5km over the speed limit, gets a $250 fine.
You know those 5km are crucial and can make the difference in everyone being safer.
Would you support this?
Ok i will answer this,,but first.
will i still get fined for dropping 5km before tailgating and riding my motorbike in the rain full of meth.
and will that fine have anything to do with this post.
How about you have a bit of a rethink and write what you want to say a bit more legibly. Cheers.
like yours, none of it has anything to do with the topic.
Select to expand quotekiterboy said..
Cobra said...
kiterboy said..
Cobra said...
kiterboy said..
Now, please answer this, those of you in support of the fines.
Dropping 5km 'apparently' saves lives on the road - so from now on, those caught doing 5km over the speed limit, gets a $250 fine.
You know those 5km are crucial and can make the difference in everyone being safer.
Would you support this?
Ok i will answer this,,but first.
will i still get fined for dropping 5km before tailgating and riding my motorbike in the rain full of meth.
and will that fine have anything to do with this post.
How about you have a bit of a rethink and write what you want to say a bit more legibly. Cheers.
I see, you also need to work on your comprehension.
Keep working at it buddy, you'll get there.
like yours, none of it has anything to do with the topic.
keep working on your analogy champ,you'll get there
