Sticky gray area
I am a conservative and strongly believe in personal rights over most everything. I think it is shame when the government takes land from people for good reason even with compensation, never mind the new ability to take private land just so the local government can make more money. But the tidal areas are a tough nut to crack
Do land owners own the land to the mean low tide mark? Should they? If yes then no body has any business being there rod or not.
If this is the case, then do the land owners have the right to fence off this area on the ocean side to keep boats out when the tide rolls in?
Do the land owners own the land to the mean high tide mark? Should they? If yes then anyone and their brother should be allowed the freedom to prance around on the low tide land -rod or not.
It is as simple as that to me. I'm not really interested in what has historicly been done because laws get enacted for all the wrong reasons all the time. I'm just interested in the way it should be done. In my humble opinion land owners should own land ot the mean high tide mark. After that they get no say about the land exposed during low tide. They pay higher taxes for the privelige to own waterfront property plain and simple. Whether they own the land to the high or low tide mark makes no difference, it is still waterfront.
That my .02 (not that it matters or that there are many people around to read this on a Friday before the holiday)!
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