WAV Travel News - Tuesday Editon
Bill Vervaeke, CDME
West Palm Beach, FL 33411
(561) 795-5912 (Office & Facsimile)
(561) 318-9089 (Cellular)
The attacks on two youths off the North Carolina coast Sunday were unusual for their proximity and brutality, but Florida shark researchers warned not to jump to conclusions that it was a rogue shark and said beachgoers shouldn’t shun water activities for the summer.
It was still unclear Monday afternoon what kind of shark was to blame for the attacks, which occurred about an hour apart and within 2 miles of each other on Oak Island, a slender stick of land 30 miles south of Wilmington. And as Oak Island reopened beaches Monday, St. Lucie County was forced to close two beaches as sharks appeared near shore about 2 p.m.
“It’s been a while since we’ve had a whole afternoon with the beaches closed because they just aren’t leaving,” said Erick Gill, public information manager for the St. Lucie County Board of County Commissioners. “We think they were reef sharks, but we didn’t get in close to investigate.”
Without seeing evidence, shark experts were hesitant to guess about the type of shark involved in the North Carolina attacks. A 12-year-old girl from Asheboro, N.C., lost part of her arm and suffered a leg injury, and a 16-year-old boy from Colorado Springs had to have his arm amputated.
But experts do know that the estuarine areas of North Carolina are used by some migrating sharks as a nursery for their pups, and that it takes a larger shark to remove a limb.
Stephen Kajiura, a Florida Atlantic University professor and shark researcher, said he suspects it was an adult bull shark, which may be in the area to have babies and breed.
“This is June; they are reaching their summer grounds, which is Georgia and through the Carolinas,” said Kajiura about bull sharks and the black-tip sharks that tend to leave the waters off South Florida in springtime to trek north. “They have a lot of nursery areas that are common for different species of sharks, so you can have a bull shark and blacktip in the same area.”
Sharks are most visible in South Florida from about January through March when large numbers of blacktips hug the shore on their way north. There are also stragglers, including white sharks, which usually bypass the Carolinas when migrating to find cooler waters off Cape Cod, Kajiura said.
“There are always sharks in a certain number in Florida,” Kajiura said. “They all don’t necessarily go north like snowbirds.”
Kyle Thomas, a spokesman for the city of Oak Island, said it hadn’t been decided Monday whether an expert would be brought in to try to identify what kind of shark was responsible for the attacks.
“Even if you can look at the wounds, sometimes you can’t conclude a whole lot,” said Robert Hueter, director of the Center for Shark Research at Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium in Sarasota.
Blacktip sharks have sharp, pointy teeth for spearing fish, while a bull shark has serrated teeth, better for cutting big chunks of tissue.
Both Hueter and Kajiura agreed it was unlikely the attacks were by a white shark because the youths were in waist deep water, typically too shallow for white sharks.
Although sharks migrate off Florida’s coast in the winter and early spring, records dating to 1926 show that most attacks in Florida occur in September, according to the International Shark Attack File at the University of Florida.
Kajiura said that could be a function of when people are in the water the most.
Volusia County, which is home to the popular New Smyrna Beach, has by far the most shark bites of any Florida county, with a tally of 267 between 1882 and 2014. Palm Beach County is third with 67.
This year to date, the U.S. has had 16 shark attacks recorded, with one person killed in Hawaii. Florida has had 10 shark bites, and North Carolina has had three.
New Smyrna Beach and the area in North Carolina where the two youths were bitten share common characteristics — they are near inlets where bait fish are plentiful and their water is more turbid.
Hueter said it’s not unusual for multiple shark bites to occur at Florida beaches on a single day when there are lots of swimmers in the water, fishermen and sharks feeding at the inlet. But they mostly don’t do the kind of damage that was seen in North Carolina.
“Basically, people are swimming in a big pool of sharks,” Hueter said about that combination. “But to have a serious incident like these two in North Carolina in the same time and space is very unusual.”
WHERE DO SHARKS BITE?
Top five Florida counties for shark bites from 1882 to 2014:
• Volusia, 267
• Brevard, 122
• Palm Beach, 67
• St. Johns, 45
• Martin, 34
Tour operators betting on Baha Mar with travel packages
The casino at the Baha Mar Casino & Hotel will have 1,500 slot machines and 150 table games
While several major tour operators are hedging their bets regarding their sale dates for packages to the $3.5 billion Baha Mar development in Nassau, two operators last week decided to jump ahead of the pack.
Delta Vacations is offering packages for travel beginning Jan. 4 that include stays at all four Baha Mar properties: the 1,000-room Baha Mar Casino & Hotel, the 700-room Grand Hyatt, the 300-room SLS Lux and the 200-room Rosewood. The Melia Nassau Beach, the project’s fifth hotel and lone pre-existing property, remains open as it completes renovations and conversion to the Melia at Baha Mar, expected early next year.
“Our goal is to ensure that Baha Mar is 100% ready to go when the first Delta Vacations’ customers arrive,” said Tina Iglio, senior vice president for marketing and product development for MLT, which operates Delta Vacations. “The Jan. 4 date may shift forward pending the results of our product team’s site inspections next week to determine progress made since their last visit in February.”
Based on his recent extensive site inspection, Pleasant Holidays’ CEO Jack Richards placed three-night packages at the Grand Hyatt and the Baha Mar Casino & Hotel in Pleasant’s inventory for travel starting Nov. 1. Richards told Baha Mar officials that he would not sell the resort if he could not see it for himself.
“I wanted to see everything, from the entry-level rooms at the four hotels to the convention center, casino and shops,” Richards said. “I was very impressed. The place is a mix of Las Vegas and the French Riviera in the Caribbean, and it is more than 90% completed.” He said that the pools have water, the landscaping is almost in place, the 18-hole golf course is ready for play, the high-end shops such as Tiffany and Cartier will open shortly, the turtles are in the marine sanctuary and the wedding chapel awaits its first couple.
“I went in skeptical, based on the delays to date,” Richards said. “What I saw was a luxury product that I feel will be very successful for high-end clients, groups and conventions.”
The Lynden Pindling airport in Nassau offers preclearance and Global Entry for U.S. travelers.
“That’s a selling point too,” Richards said of the airport. “In my mind, the only issue is airlift. It does not appear to me there is enough major airlift to support 3,000 more hotel rooms.”
Although Baha Mar officials did not give Richards a specific opening date for the complex, they said September was a strong possibility.
“Just to be sure, I am saying Nov. 1 for Pleasant Holidays’ packages,” Richards said. “If Baha Mar opens sooner, I can change the effective dates on our packages to reflect that.”
The three-night packages, which can be booked on Pleasant Holidays’ website, are priced from $934 per person at the Grand Hyatt and $943 at the Baha Mar Casino & Hotel. Air from Atlanta, accommodations, transfers, resort fees and government taxes are included. From New York Kennedy, package prices start at $995 per person.
Delta Vacations’ prices for a three-night package in January from Atlanta with the same inclusions start at $1,112 per person at the Baha Mar Casino and Hotel. Other tour operators are taking a wait-and-see position. Travel Impressions and Apple Vacations, for example, are not taking reservations.
“We do, however, have our hotel contracts and are ready to sell once we feel confident that the resort is ready to receive our customers,” Travel Impressions said in a statement.
Classic Vacations and GoGo Vacations both said they are monitoring the situation.
Meanwhile, the 3,400-room Atlantis resort reports strong growth year over year, continues to offer a full schedule of year-round events and programs and will open Estiatorio Milos, a Greek-influenced Mediterranean restaurant, in the fall.
Paul Burke, Atlantis’ president and managing director, said, “As with any new hotel and resort developments in the country, we hope Baha Mar will help expand the market with increased airlift and awareness of the destination as a whole, including growing tourism in the Bahamas.”
The Nassau Paradise Island Promotion Board reported air arrivals were up 5% year to date through April, and occupancy was up 7% in the same period. CEO Fred Lounsberry said that 2015 “has been a strong year so far, with both consumers and our trade partners responding positively to our product upgrades and marketing programs.” The board has plans in place to support “the substantial growth needed to accommodate added hotel product,” he said.
How To Spot a 'Free Ticket to Disney World' Facebook Scam
Remember, if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
That goes for free tickets to Florida's Walt Disney World Resort. With summer right around the corner, social media scams promising chances to win free trips, which have been around for years, are cropping up across the web.
Currently, a scam is circulating on Facebook that promises a chance to win a free Walt Disney World vacation to any user who likes, shares and comments on a particular post. But as Inquisitr.com points out, "this isn’t really The Disney Company putting on these so-called contests."
The ultimate goal of this scam and others is to gain access to a user's personal information. So by sharing the post you're not only not entering a real contest, but you're putting your and your friends' information at risk.
But that doesn't mean you have to remain invisible on Facebook. The key is to do some quick research on the post to make sure it's coming from the real source rather than a scammer.
Contest rules, correct spelling and punctuation, dates and other company posts are just a few of the things users should double check before clicking the like or share button.
Keeping an eye out for the verified blue check is also an easy way to determine the validity of a promotion on Facebook and Twitter.
"A lot of these sites will have names such as 'Walt Disney World.' or 'WaltDisney-World' or even 'Walt Disney Land.' The Facebook scam pages know they can't use the actual name, but they will steal some of the profile pics and cover photos from the official pages to make them seem more believable," states Inquisitr.com.
In some cases the pictures featured in the posts can provide red flags as well.
Despite how little it takes to identify a potential scam, these fake contests have been going on for years. According to Snopes.com, a similar scam involving Disneyland spread via email and social networking sites back in 2012.
Prior to that, scams involving JetBlue and other prominent companies were discovered.
Four Injured in Accidental Shooting at NYC's Waldorf Astoria Hotel
A wedding guest and three hotel workers suffered injuries on Saturday following an accidental shooting inside Manhattan's Waldorf Astoria hotel, according to the New York Post.
Brothers Vladimir and Felix Gotlibovsky were arrested when 42-year-old Vladimir accidentally fired the gun during a wedding ceremony at the 47-story hotel. However prosecution has been deferred while an investigation into the incident continues.
"Prosecution of this case is deferred while the investigation continues into the circumstances surrounding the discharge of the firearm and its removal from the scene," said Manhattan District Attorney's Office spokesman Patrick Muncie in a statement via the Post. "The person believed to have discharged the weapon has a permit authorizing him to possess and carry it."
Vladimir had been charged with reckless endangerment and assault, while 51-year-old Felix was charged with criminal possession of a weapon and tampering with evidence.
Maya Rafailovich, a guest at the wedding party, suffered a wound on her forehead when the gun went off. Three hotel staffers also suffered minor injuries resulting from shattered glass and debris.
According to New York's ABC 7, hotel officials allowed the bride and groom to complete the religious ceremony at the hotel but requested everyone leave afterward around 10 p.m. ET.
The Post reports investigators are considering charges against two others who allegedly assisted in transporting the firearm back to Vladimir's home in Brooklyn.
New York's iconic Waldorf Astoria hotel opened back in 1931 and was the world's tallest hotel for more than three decades. Today the hotel boasts more than 1,400 rooms, but remains one of the Big Apple's premier accommodations.
Police Continue Search for Man Who Fell From Canadian Dinner Ship
Toronto Police are searching for a man who fell from a Mariposa cruise ship into Lake Ontario over the weekend.
According to Jenny Yuen of the Toronto Sun, the unidentified man fell from the Northern Spirit around 7:30 p.m. local time on Saturday, roughly two miles south of the Humber River.
Emergency crews in the water and in the air searched the area up until midnight on Saturday and resumed their efforts on Sunday.
"The water is 9C (48F) and he's been out there since 7:30 p.m. (Saturday), but we're not going to presume anything because he might be hanging on to something or he might wash up somewhere unconscious," said Const. John Liggio via the Sun.
Liggio would only add that there were people with the man when he fell from the ship and that alcohol was being served to passengers aboard the vessel. He wouldn't comment as to whether the missing man had been drinking.
Mariposa Cruises president Jim Nicholson told reporters that the ship's crew members responded appropriately and followed the proper protocol, adding that they participate in annual emergency training and safety drills as often as every two weeks.
However Nicholson said that the ship's life boat was raised from the water shortly after being lowered when multiple police boats arrived to the scene. "...they didn't have time to get in before the police arrived," said Nicholson via the Sun. "Our boat was smaller than (the police boats) and so we took the boat back up and part of protocol is we wanted to turn our boat around to where the accident happened. As you know a big boat doesn’t stop on a dime."
"In 28 years being in business, we've never had an incident like this," he added. "We pride our safety and protocol as first and foremost and we’ve never had this happen."
The 134-foot-long Northern Spirit boasts a maximum capacity of 550 guests, but was carrying 427 when the incident occurred. The ship remained docked on Sunday, per CTV Toronto reporter Heather Wright.
Paris Air Show: Boeing racks up orders for its 737
Paris Air Show: Boeing gets 100-plane order, focuses on 737 for future sales
LE BOURGET, France (AP) -- Boeing landed the biggest order so far of the Paris Air Show with a deal Tuesday for 100 of its 737s — the single-aisle jets that Boeing's CEO calls "the heart of the market" in the years to come.
Fighter jets growled and superjumbos soared above Le Bourget airfield outside Paris, the U.S. Air Force secretary met CEOs, and Mideast and Asian airlines signed multibillion-dollar deals as thousands gathered for the latest edition of the world's oldest air show.
Boeing and European rival Airbus clocked scores of sales, with particularly intense competition between the 737MAX series of planes and Airbus' 320 family of jets.
Dutch-based leasing company AerCap ordered 100 737MAX-8 planes after long negotiations, Boeing said Tuesday. The deal is worth up to $10.7 billion, though customers routinely negotiate discounts off list prices.
In other Boeing announcements Tuesday:
-Ireland-based leasing company SMBC Aviation Capital ordered 10 of the 737MAX-8 jets, worth up to $1 billion.
-Indonesian domestic airline Sriwijaya Air ordered two 737-900 jets, for up to $198 million.
-Chinese low-cost carrier Rulli Airlines made a commitment to buy 30 planes from the 737 MAX range.
-Chinese leasing company Minsheng Financial signed a preliminary 737 deal for 30 planes.
Airbus showcased several deals Monday, and on Tuesday announced that Japanese low-cost carrier Peach Aviation signed a firm order for three A320 jets.
Russian economic troubles clouded the stream of contracts, as Aeroflot announced it was canceling an order for Boeing 787 jets.
Boeing CEO Ray Conner acknowledged Russia is "a tough market right now" and said details of the cancellation are still being negotiated, but insisted that his company would find other customers for the plane.
The conflict in Ukraine and resulting sanctions have hit the Russian economy, and limited Russia's presence at this year's Paris Air Show.
While Airbus executives predict high demand for jumbo jets like the A380 to serve growing megacities, Conner had an opposite view, calling that "a limited market."
"We believe the world continues to fragment," he said. "Nobody wants to hub up, gather and go off from there."
Boeing is forecasting demand for 38,050 airplanes over the next 20 years, and says 26,730 of those will be single-aisle jets. Airbus projects that 32,600 new planes worth a total of $4.9 trillion will be needed by 2034.
Conner said the lower oil price this year isn't dampening demand for more fuel-efficient models like the 737MAX series.
Lower fuel costs save airlines money, and "when airlines make money they tend to buy aircraft, which is a great thing."
The Paris show alternates years with Britain's Farnborough Air Show as Europe's premier industry event. Top military officials join CEOs and some 300,000 visitors at the event, which runs through June 21.
House committee chairman: Spin off air traffic control
House transportation committee chairman says he'll propose spinning off air traffic control
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The chairman of the House transportation committee said Monday he'll introduce a bill that takes control of air traffic operations away from the government and places it under the control of a non-profit corporation run by airlines and other segments of the aviation industry.
Keeping air traffic operations under government control would be "the surest road to failure," Rep. Bill Shuster, a Pennsylvania Republican, told a Washington Aero Club luncheon.
Since the dawn of aviation, the U.S. has moved more people and goods by air than any other nation, "but I believe we're on the brink of losing our lead," he said. "It's questionable whether our (air traffic) system is capable of just sustaining current demands — delays already cost passengers and the economy $30 billion a year. But, there's no question whether this system can handle the growth that's coming. It can't."
The Federal Aviation Administration has been hampered in recent years by government-wide budget cuts. Two years ago, air traffic was snarled at airports across the country for days after budget cuts resulted in the furlough of some controllers.
The FAA has also been working for 10 years on transitioning from a radar-based air traffic control system to one based on satellite technology, but there's no completion in sight, Shuster said. A Government Accountability Office survey of airline and other aviation industry officials found that very few believe the agency is capable of achieving its goals for a new air traffic system.
Privatization "will make flying and the time it takes to get from one place to another much better than it is now because it will give us a modern air traffic control system," said Nick Calio, head of Airlines for America, a trade association for major airlines.
Controllers are keeping an open mind on the proposal but want to see the details, said Paul Rinaldi, president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association.
"The details really do matter," he said.
Rep. Peter DeFazio of Oregon, the senior Democrat on the committee, said he has "a number of serious concerns about the constitutionality, the national security implications, and the logistical challenges of separating the system."
Airlines have been heavily lobbying Congress to give them a greater say in air traffic operations and how they are paid for. The non-profit corporation would be run by a board that would include airlines, private plane owners, and labor unions, among others.
The FAA would still set safety standards and be responsible for enforcing them.
Currently, air traffic control operations are financed through a series of taxes and fees on airline tickets and aviation fuels. Airlines have long wanted to move to a "user fee" system based on takeoffs and landings, but have been opposed by private plane owners who fear such a system will require them to pay a larger share of the costs for operating the $10 billion annual air traffic control system.
Private aircraft owners have also expressed concern that the board would be dominated by big airlines and the large airports that service them. They say they fear that with air travel increasing, private planes will be pushed out of large and medium-sized airports in large metropolitan areas to make room for more airline flights.
Shuster also said the bill, to be introduced this month, will require the FAA to delegate more responsibility to aircraft, engine and other aviation manufacturers for safety oversight of their products' design and manufacture. Some manufacturers have complained of long delays in getting the FAA's approval to make their products. FAA approval is required for every aircraft design and the manufacture of each plane and piece of equipment. The agency already delegates a lot of that responsibility to designated employees of the manufacturer who are overseen by regulators.
Earlier this year, Shuster acknowledged having "a personal and private relationship" with an airline lobbyist and said he never considered recusing himself from the panel's work on aviation legislation.
Airlines zap travelers with a ticket hike, just in time for summer
Airlines are starting off the busy travel season with a bang, raising ticket prices by up to $10 round-trip.
Who started it?
Difficult to say, partly because this hike has followed a strange pattern, like a bar brawl in slow-motion. Hiking activity was initially detected June 4 as JetBlue raised some prices, followed by a ten-day slug-fest in which various airlines jumped in and out to match, tweak, add or subtract routes. The ball really got rolling last week when Southwest joined in; by week's end, the carrier's pricing morphed into a full-blown, system-wide hike which was then matched by American and appears to be sticking.
What's different about this hike?
The pace, for one thing. Hikes are usually quick and decisive affairs in which one airline raises prices system-wide and competing carriers either jump in or not. If they do, one or more may quickly reconsider and roll back prices, and others follow. If the bigger carriers stand pat, the hike sticks. This one began in bits and pieces before slowly growing into an across-the-board increase.
Why raise prices now?
Toys "R" Us doesn't put its kiddie favorites on sale for the Christmas shopping season, does it? Airlines are businesses, too, and they know people want to fly in the summer. At the moment, demand remains high and the airlines believe travelers are willing to pay the extra ten bucks. If that changes, prices will roll back, but don't count on that.
How travelers can save on airfare
There are still two good ways to save money on airline tickets which I'll call Delay & Discomfort. Here's how it works:
• Delay: If you can wait to fly until Aug. 25 or beyond, you will see a significant price drop; in some cases, this will translate into savings of up to 20%.
• Discomfort I: Forget flying the most popular days, Friday or Sunday; they also happen to be (usually) the most expensive days to fly. Instead, travel Tuesday, Wednesday or Saturday and you will save money.
• Discomfort II: Forgo the convenient non-stop in favor of a connecting flight. You could save as much as 50% or more.
Fumes force passengers out on wing of Allegiant Air plane
After yet another incident over the weekend, it’s getting ever more difficult for airlines to claim, “There’s nothing to see here” in response to growing concerns over toxic chemicals to which flight crew and fliers are exposed.
Heavy fumes began filling the cabin of Allegiant Air flight 331 from Los Angeles to Boise after the plane landed. The situation quickly escalated and passengers began to worry, especially as the flight crew offered little assistance or instruction, according to passenger Niki Hughes, who told ABC News:
“They did not make any announcements to the rest of the plane until they noticed that someone had opened the emergency exit,” she said. “The flight attendant made it clear that she was frustrated at the fact that someone opened the door because they would not be able to leave on time now for their next flight. People were visibly scared and confused and the staff on the plane just seemed annoyed.”
As the central aisle crowded with people desperate to get off the plane, vapor (believed to be smoke) began entering through the air vents, creating enough panic that passengers decided to take matters into their own hands and open the emergency exits and escape onto the wing. Again, the flight crew reportedly offered little help.
Psgrs on wing.jpg
Blanca Robles, who was sitting in row 29, told the Idaho Statesman:
“The stewardess didn’t even come back, nothing on the speaker, nothing. All the people in the back were stuck. People started jumping off on the wing.”
Indeed, the fumes had grown so bad, they began entering the gate into the airport, burning throats and noses, and disturbing those waiting for the next flight.
Details are still fuzzy, but the culprit, it appears, was a fuel spill at the gate. However, some passengers claim the fumes started upon descent. Whatever the cause or effect, Allegiant Air has already released a statement absolving itself of any wrongdoing. Allegiant said in a statement to MailOnline Travel:
“A review of the incident confirmed that at no time were the passengers or crew members on board the plane in danger,” “At Allegiant the safety of our passengers and employees is our number one priority.”
For their troubles, passengers were issued $50 vouchers for future travel. However, payouts for future toxic fumes incidences may increase if British flight crews win the lawsuit they are planning against airlines for poisoning on the job, and set a precedent for the future.
El Al airline criticised for high heel rule
Female flight attendants have criticised El Al airline for forcing them to wear high heels at all times until take-off.
An email sent out to all staff members last week said that heels must be worn by all female crew until all passengers have boarded and are safely in their seats.
Previously the airline's rules stated that heels should be worn by women when in the airport and greeting passengers on boarding.
But when they entered the plane, they were allowed to wear more comfortable footwear.
A petition has been set up opposing the decision, with around 200 people signing it so far.
One flight attendant was quoted by the Times of Israel as saying: "It is unbelievable how much an employer can be disconnected from his workers."
Yehudit Grisaro, vice president of customer service at El Al Israel Airlines told The Times of Israel: "The company updates its service procedures and within that framework it was decided that the stewardesses teams wear presentable shoes also when welcoming customers to flights.
"Immediately after the seating, and during the entire flight, activities are in work shoes. We stress that this practice is accepted in the world air industry."
Suspected norovirus on LA-bound flight
A suspected norovirus outbreak has struck again, this time aboard a Los Angeles bound plane.
A total of 13 Fiji Airways passengers travelling in two groups suffered nausea and vomiting on their flight to LA, airport spokeswoman Nancy Castles said, adding that all the passengers had stayed at the same hotel in Fiji before travelling.
Medical officers from the Centers for Disease Control checked each of the affected passengers while still on the aircraft at the Tom Bradley International Terminal before clearing them to deplane after about 30 minutes.
The source of the stomach bug is being investigated at the hotel where the passengers stayed, and additionally Fiji Airways' in-flight caterer has sent food samples to be tested.
"All we know at this stage is that the 13 were part of two groups travelling together and stayed at the same resort," the airline said in a statement.
"LAX is an international hub. It is not unusual for passengers to arrive sick from overseas travel. Perhaps what is unusual is the high number of people who all had the same symptoms, Castles said, adding that the airport had initiated "long-established procedures" to temporarily quarantine affected travelers in coordination with the CDC and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Hallandale Beach may relax law on marijuana possession
People caught with a bag of marijuana weighing less than 20 grams would face a fine instead of arrest under a plan being pushed by Commissioner Keith London. Hallandale Beach may be the first city in Broward County to embrace the relaxed law.
London says he has been following a similar push by elected leaders in Miami Beach and Miami-Dade County to treat misdemeanor possession of marijuana as a civil offense with a $100 fine.
Miami-Dade commissioners are expected to vote on the plan June 30.
Miami Beach has already given preliminary approval to a similar proposal.
"If it's good enough for Miami Beach, why isn't it good enough for Hallandale?" London asked before pitching the idea to commissioners during a City Hall meeting Monday evening.
"These aren't dealers," London said. "This doesn't change state law in any form. But it gives some discretion to the police department ."Hallandale Beach commissioners agreed to bring London's proposal back for a formal vote at a later date. Officers would make the final decision on whether to make an arrest or issue the fine. Hallandale Beach Police Chief Dwayne Flournoy said the plan warranted a "worthwhile discussion."
But he stopped short of saying it was a good idea. "Some people may think it's a money grab," Flournoy said.
"I do believe these cases don't need to be clogging up the courts and police resources. The devil is in the details. "Flournoy said staff at City Hall will be tasked with researching how the program would work.
The chief questioned whether a fine would be appropriate for someone who already has a criminal record. He also wondered whether a fine would be issued to a person more than once.
Still, he predicted the relaxed rules might find favor with other cities throughout South Florida. "I think every chief in Broward County may get a call this week from their elected officials asking them to look at what Miami Beach is doing," he said.