A court challenge to tickets issued by the Bradenton Beach Police Department to a boater in the live-aboard community on the city bayfront ended with two fines and one dismissal.
Jeremy Alan Thomas, the owner of several boats in the anchorage area, was cited Aug. 24 for two anchor light violations, and on Oct. 11, for failing to carry a proper sound-making device.
Thomas challenged the tickets, which were combined at a Nov. 4 trial where Thomas, represented by Sarasota attorney Jeffrey Snell, presented his case before 12th Circuit Judge Doug Henderson.
Henderson took the matter under advisement and, on Nov. 5, found:
· Thomas was in charge of vessels, which, at anchor, must exhibit a white light.
· Thomas failed to have a whistle on a vessel.
· Thomas has since come into compliance with proper anchor lights and whistles.
Henderson ordered $250 in fines payable within 60 days for two of the citations and dismissed one of the anchor-light tickets.
“It was a fight, but ultimately, we won,” said BBPD Officer Eric Hill, who wrote the tickets and testified at the trial.
— Kathy Prucnell
