Coast Guard policing potties
Several boaters found the U.S. Coast Guard on their vessels Wednesday morning for a check of their toilets.
In an operation with Bradenton Beach Police and the Manatee County Sheriff's Office marine unit, Coast Guard sailors boarded boats anchored off the Bradenton Beach City Pier and Coquina Beach after reports from divers who recently saw toilet paper piled up on the coral reef at Leffis Key.
It is illegal to flush waste from boat toilets into state waters within nine miles of the coast, according to Brandon Irons, with the Coast Guard.
Boaters must have their toilets flow into a receiving tank on their vessel, then dump the contents at a marina or other site approved to receive waste, Irons said.
Coast Guard officials used dye pellets Wednesday to check if boaters toilets were hooked properly to a receiving tank on board.
"We put the pellets in the tank and flush. If we see dye enter the water, we know they are illegally dumping," Irons said.
A violation can be costly. A first-time offender can face a fine of $375 from the Coast Guard, a second-time offender $1,125, and a third time $2,250.
After several check of boats Wednesday, boaters were either in compliance or had left their boats before law enforcement arrived.
"They see them coming and take off," said one boater who passed the Coast Guard test Wednesday. "I can tell you, I see people dumping waste out here all the time. I hate to see it."
Bradenton Beach Officer Tom McGill said Wednesday's operation was just the first in an ongoing effort to clean up the waters around Bradenton Beach.
"We are going to be out here doing this quite a bit. I swim here; my kids swim here," said Bradenton Beach Officer Tom McGill. "So this is a public safety issue, and we are very serious about keeping these waters clean."
James Williams, who lives on his boat anchored at the Bradenton Beach City Pier, said he is happy law enforcement is making checks.
"This is my backyard, basically," he said. "So I am happy they are out here. When people do that kind of thing, it gives all of us a bad name, and I have a hard time with that."
McGill said Bradenton Beach will also begin checking boats using the dye pellets, but he also hopes to see violators having to face federal citations.
"When the Coast Guard gets involved, people will find themselves in federal court," he said.
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