Unger: Leashes would ensure surfers' access Says safety measure would make rules on surfing uniform BY CHRISTINE VARNO Staff Writer A proposed ordinance would require surfers to be tethered to their boards. LONG BRANCH - - A measure proposed by Long Branch Councilman Brian Unger to tighten surfing rules in order to expand surfing areas along the city's shoreline has been tabled for further review. At the Aug. 28 City Council workshop meeting, Unger said he presented council with a draft ordinance that would require surfers to wear a safety "leash" attaching the surfer to the surfboard. "It is so we can have some new surfing areas and keep them surfing, even if it is in water next to a swimming area," said Unger, an environmental activist and surfer, last week. "It is a safety issue so we can pack in more recreation and not ban surfing," he said, adding, "I'd say that 99.9 percent of surfers wear leashes all the time." The proposal came about, Unger explained, after he learned that surfers were being told by lifeguards not to surf in some designated surfing areas in Long Branch waters. "When I got elected as city councilman, [lifeguards] were telling people they couldn't surf in about three or four [surfing] areas," Unger said. "Then those areas just kind of became swimming areas." Unger said that rules for designated surfing areas are a "mishmash." He explained that at some designated surfing areas, such as at the end of Brighton Avenue and at the end of Pavilion Avenue, surfing is sometimes permitted and at other times it is restricted. "Sometimes surfing is allowed and sometimes it isn't," Unger said. "It is different every day. There isn't an actual ban at any of the beaches. It just changes every day." There are approximately six designated surfing areas in the city and several hundred people who surf at them, according to Unger. There are approximately three designated surfing areas that are located adjacent to designated swimming areas, Unger said. "If a surfboard washes into a swimming area, it can be very dangerous," Unger said. "If they just require leashes it would prevent that from happening." A leash, generally attached to a surfer's ankle, tethers the surfer to the surfboard. If wearing surfing leashes becomes mandatory in Long Branch, Unger said it would allow surfers to continue surfing in designated areas while protecting the safety of the public swimming in adjacent waters. "I have spoken with lifeguards and many agree," he said. Unger said he would like the final draft of the ordinance to include that the law be enforced by lifeguards, rather than the city police department. "Everything has always been done by the lifeguards," Unger said. "The lifeguards have always handled things before." Also, he would like the law to not be enforced when surfers are in the water alone, such as in the winter when there generally are only surfers in the water, Unger said. Public Safety Director William Richards said in an interview after the meeting that his office is not opposed to the city passing a surfing leash ordinance, but he does have some concerns with the proposal discussed at the workshop. Unger presented council with a model ordinance, according to Richards, who said, "it is a work in progress." "My fundamental concern with it has to do with the practical elements of enforcement," Richards said. "We have an obligation to enforce city ordinances. "It is not uncommon to get into something of a stand-off situation. The cop is on the land and the surfer is on the water. "It could stay that way for a considerable period of time," Richards said. Another provision in the model ordinance that Richards said he had a problem with is that it calls for preventing law enforcement officers from removing surfers from the water, even in extreme weather conditions. "A provision said that surfers will surf at their own risk," Richards said. He explained that the city's law enforcement officers have always been permitted to clear the water in hurricane or severe weather conditions. "There are a couple of provisions that offer potential problems," Richards said. "My understanding is that they are taking another look at this ordinance. It is a work in progress." Unger said the council plans to continue discussions on the proposal at future workshop meetings. "We had a full discussion at workshop [on the proposed ordinance]," Unger said. "It looks like there is some support from council."