Florida Gov Scott has signed into law Florida HB1051, which prohibits overnight anchoring in part of the Middle River in Broward; and Sunset Lake and portions of Biscayne Bay in Miami-Dade…

The bill creates s. 327.4108, F.S., providing for anchoring limitation areas. The bill designates the following densely populated urban areas, which have narrow state waterways, residential docking facilities, and significant recreational boating traffic as anchoring limitation areas:

The section of Middle River lying between Northeast 21st Court and the Intracoastal Waterway in Broward County;

Sunset Lake in Miami-Dade County; and

The sections of Biscayne Bay in Miami-Dade County lying between:

• Rivo Alto Island and Di Lido Island;
• San Marino Island and San Marco Island; and
• San Marco Island and Biscayne Island.

The bill prohibits anchoring of a vessel between one-half hour after sunset and one-half hour before sunrise in an anchoring limitation area. The bill provides exceptions to the anchoring in anchoring limitation areas. The bill also provides for the issuance of a uniform boating citation with tiered penalties and authorizes the removal and impoundment of a vessel for anchoring in anchoring limitation areas in certain circumstances.