Destin Customary Use Legal Access Case

The City of Destin and South Walton County residents and visitors in 2009 began being arrested due to homeowners calling Okaloosa County Sherriffs departments to remove people who are laterally traversing the beach. Florida's state law regarding the Public Trust Doctrine and Customary Use is currently being challenged. Surfrider provided an Amicus Brief for the case. The district court found that the homeowners were not being deprived of a constitutional liberty and the suit was dismissed. The homeowners then appealed this decision to the 11th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals. On April 17, 2012 the Court of Appeals upheld the dismissal of the homeowners' claims.