'Making some progress': PCB sees big drop in number of swimmers ticketed during double-red flags

Nathan Cobb, The News Herald
·3 min read

PANAMA CITY BEACH — It appears beachgoers have gotten the message that Panama City Beach takes double-red flag conditions seriously.

So far this year, there has been a dramatic drop compared to last year in the number of people ticketed $500 for entering the Gulf of Mexico while double-red flags fly, according to James Tindle, code enforcement director for Panama City Beach.

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Flags were double red and waves were dangerous but that didn’t keep some people from entering the water west of the M.B. Miller County Pier on Saturday.
Flags were double red and waves were dangerous but that didn’t keep some people from entering the water west of the M.B. Miller County Pier on Saturday.

Tindle noted that from March 1 to May 17, 2021, there were 18 days where Panama City Beach was under double-red flags, and 128 people were ticketed for entering the Gulf during that time.

For comparison, only 22 people have been ticketed so far this year during 15 double-red days.

"It feels like we're making some progress with the education and making our beaches as safe as possible for visitors," said Wil Spivey, beach safety director for Panama City Beach Fire Rescue. "Our visitors are obviously concerned about family, and when they come to visit, they want a safe place to visit.

"It's good to see the fruits of your labor, but we're going to have to stay on top of it," he added. "I don't want to let our guard down."

The City Council approved an ordinance in 2020 that set a $500 fine for swimmers who refuse to get out of the water when safety officials have two red flags flying. The ordinance also established a 50% discount for those who pay their fine within 20 days.

A lifeguard looks out over the Gulf of Mexico during a double-red flags day in July 2020.
A lifeguard looks out over the Gulf of Mexico during a double-red flags day in July 2020.

Tindle said other beach citations this year include 92 $50 citations for having dogs on areas of the beach other than Dog Beach at Pier Park Panama City Beach, two $1,000 citations for illegally driving on the beach and 19 $50 citations for having glass on the beach.

In addition to those, lifeguards since January have conducted 24 water rescues and overseen a dozen medical transports, according to Spivey.

While Spivey was not sure how this year's numbers compare to the same time last year, he said there weren't "any anomalies."

He also said at least one swimmer has drowned this year in the Gulf of Mexico off PCB. Six drowned in 2021, which was half the amount from 2020.

"You never know what you're going to get, or what Mother Nature is going to throw at you, but ... I would say (numbers this year) aren't too far off of what has existed in the past," Spivey said.

Panama City Beach currently has six full-time lifeguards, two more than in 2021. City officials hope to hire 16 seasonal lifeguards, an increase of four from last season. About half of those seasonal positions were filled as of Tuesday. Spivey said he is "actively recruiting, hiring and training" interested and qualified applicants.

"The fact is (the Gulf of Mexico) is an open body of water with a lot of factors," he said. "There's currents, waves, drop-offs — a lot of ways a person could find themselves in a dangerous situation, especially if there is a weak swimmer or a non-swimmer.

"I would highly encourage folks to pay attention to the flag conditions and to swim near a lifeguard."

This article originally appeared on The News Herald: PCB sees dramatic dip in citations for swimming under double-red flags