York Town News
Selectman questions treatment of surfers
By Larry Favinger
YORK - The chief of police has refuted claims by Selectman Torbert Macdonald Jr. based on allegations from at least one surfer that police were harassing surfers and confiscating their boards.Police Chief Douglas Bracy said the issue of police being called to Long Sands Beach is one of safety.
At the Board of Selectmen's meeting on Monday, July 24, Macdonald said a friend told him seasonal police officers were waiting for surfers who violated the rules of the restricted surfing area on Long Sands Beach, handing out tickets and taking their boards.
He said officers allegedly told the surfers they don't bring any money into town.
"I have no surfboards at the police station," Bracy said Tuesday, adding no summonses were issued.
Bracy said he couldn't understand why, if there was a problem, the Board of Selectmen didn't bring the issue through the established channels so it could be properly studied and handled.
While there are no confiscated boards at the station, Bracy said there were some problems with surfers disregarding what lifeguards were saying at the beach.
"That's why police were called," he said, adding warnings were given.
He said there was a complaint from a swimmer at the end of Long Sands Beach nearest to the Cutty Sark, which is a good half-mile outside the designated surfing area.
Bracy said a fulltime officer was dispatched to support the warnings issued by the lifeguards concerning those surfing outside the designated areas.
"There's a reason we have those laws and ordinances," Bracy said. To the best of his recollection the surfing area was designated as the result of a lawsuit that emerged from a surfer colliding with a swimmer.
Macdonald said surfing there are several businesses in town supported by the sport and termed surfing "a burgeoning economy" in the town that should be supported.
He said the area for surfing has not been increased over the years, even though the number of surfers has grown.
"These people are the future," Macdonald said of the surfing community.
Due to the currents in the ocean it is nearly impossible for surfers to stay within the designated areas, he said.
Surfers can surf throughout the beach beginning at 5 p.m.
