Sometimes, you just shake your head ....
The viral drone video of boating partiers dumping garbage bins full of beer cans and other debris into the ocean outside the inlet at Boca Raton after partying at the “Boca Bash” is now a meme, and the teenage boys who did it, 15 and 16, are now hopefully well aware that there are eyes everywhere today, and that you can’t get away with much.
They have been charged with a 3rd degree felony—which could generate jail time, but probably won’t in this case unless the obvious “up yours” attitude of the youths after dumping the trash raises the ire of the judiciary to the point that some serious penalty is seen as justified.
More likely a fine and community service considering their age. The fine could reportedly be as high as $50,000 for purposeful egregious dumping, so it’s sure to make it clear to even wealthy parents that this is not something that will be tolerated in Florida waters. However, Rodney Barretto, chair of the Florida Fish & Wildlife Commission, has already publicly stated that he sees no need to “ruin young lives” over what was probably some beer-fueled “watch this” moments.
Their notoriety, however, may follow them when they apply for college or for jobs in the future. The trail of the Internet is long and easily followed, for good or bad.
The Boca Bash is a sort of rites of spring thing, in which thousands of mostly young people get a little drunk and a little crazy on the water. It’s a free event held in a wide spot in the Intracoastal Waterway, just around the corner from Boca Raton Inlet.
What happens to all the human waste generated by a day of drinking and eating is not approached, but in the enclosed confines of that bay, it can’t be good.
The Boca Bash organizers, immediately aware that their event might be in deep doodoo, posted the following last week:
"We cannot be more angered and disturbed by these actions. Once the video was posted we quickly got to work with the community to discover who the owner of the boat was and who was on the vessel in this particular instance committing an egregious act. Several people that helped in identifying them had already contacted authorities to handle the situation. By no means do we believe this is a representation of the gathering. We implore and expect boaters to keep the waterways clean, uphold proper boating etiquette, and follow state laws while on the water. We also are very clear that it is of utmost importance to hire a captain for your vessel if you are on the water enjoying drinks. It is shameful to see local boaters from surrounding cities have little to no respect for our local wildlife and marine ecosystems. We do not condone this behavior by any means and are appalled that the passengers even had the audacity to clap at the drone that was filming them dumping their garbage. We hope the repercussions handed down can be viewed publicly as a warning of how important our waters are to us native Floridians.”
The Boca Bash is far from an isolated event, though hopefully the purposeful trash dumping is. There are many gathering spots for boaters around Florida’s shores, where clear waters and shallow, sandy bars welcome large gatherings. They involve booze, loud music and skimpy bathing suits, and if you’re at the stage in life where that all sounds wonderful, have at it.
Just be aware that these days, God may not be watching but the Internet is, and if you color too far outside the lines, you’ll be observed and made viral in a way that can make life miserable, shrink your bank account and maybe even land you in jail.
— Frank Sargeant
Frankmako1@gmail.com