Florida is the spring break capital of the country.
But that often brings big headaches for communities from the rowdy party animals.
And a group of Florida spring breakers is in hot water for pulling this sick move.
Boaters caught dumping trash into the ocean on spring break
The annual Boca Bash is a party that happens on the last Sunday in April on Lake Boca Raton in the
intercoastal waterway in Palm Beach County.
More than 10,000 people on boats, kayaks, jet skis, and paddleboards come to party in a boozy celebration while soaking in the sun.
The event has turned into one of the biggest parties in South Florida on the water, but it usually does not draw national attention.
Typically, about a dozen people are arrested every year for offenses mostly related to alcohol.
But this year’s Boca Bash drew international attention after a video went viral on social media.
A group partying on a triple-engine boat was recorded dumping two garbage cans filled with bottles, cans, and cups into the ocean, followed by a brief celebration of their littering.
Locals who spend time on Boca Raton’s intercoastal were furious at the shameless display of littering.
“It just really infuriates you to see someone trash the ocean like that,” Rodrigo Samsing, a local who boats on the intercoastal, said. “You know, nobody else on the boat tried to stop them. Everybody was just celebrating.”
Samsing said that there was no reason that they could not have waited until they got to shore to get rid of their garbage.
“I mean they already had the trash sitting in the garbage can, they could have just put a bag, grabbed a bag, filled it up, and thrown it away,” Samsing added. “Instead, they just dump it carelessly into the ocean. It’s just really sad to see.”
Spring break and partying have been subjected to a crackdown this year by Florida communities and the state after the revelry got out of hand.
Miami Beach discouraged spring breakers from attending this year by instituting measures like a curfew, increased parking fees, and beach closures.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis sent law enforcement to bolster local police at spring break hotspots like Daytona Beach and Miami Beach.
Boaters face potential criminal charges for littering
Florida’s Litter Law states that anyone dumping more than 15 pounds of trash in a waterway can be charged with a first-degree misdemeanor that could result in up to a year in jail and a potential $1,000 fine.
Boca Bash officials claim that they have identified the people on the boat and alerted local police and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).
“It is unresponsible [sic] boaters like this that have zero care for our oceans that give this event a bad reputation,” Boca Bash said in a statement.
FWC Chairman Rodney Barreto said that the “world is watching” after the incident went viral.
“This has become a worldwide story,” Barreto said. “Over the weekend, my phone blew up. Hopefully, it will be a huge teaching moment for all of them.”
Barreto said that he hoped that all involved in the incident would be assigned 500 hours of community service.
Keeping partying under control is becoming a priority for the Sunshine State.
DeSantis Daily will keep you up-to-date on any new developments in this ongoing story.
