30 minutes after sunset
Some of us were riding at Carl Grey Park on Monday afternoon. As we all know, we will fall back this weekend and daylight savings will end. We have kited at that spot countless times until it is pitch dark. For the first time ever, some FWC officer came to the park around 6:10pm and told the guys on the beach to get the remaining riders off the water. He said that there is a law stating that any unlit "vessel" must be off the water 30 minutes after sunset. Well, sunset on Monday was at 5:47. He said that if we didn't follow that rule, we would be given a $62 ticket!!!! He was insistent that sunset had been at 4:47, and that those of us on the water could have received a ticket. I guess this idiot had already fallen back an hour a week early. In any case, he didn't give me or Crackie a ticket, but we had had our warning. We have never seen this guy before. There have been countless police and wildlife officials who have stopped and watched us ride until dark without ever saying a word. He must be a newbie in the force or something. In any case, I don't know if anyone else has dealt with this issue or not, but be aware. I wonder if we were to use red and green glow sticks on our kites, if then we would be considered "lit."?? Oh well, so much for those late afternoon and full moon rides after this weekend!!!
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