First, I just pulled these numbers out of nowhere, for the example....and second...and more importantly, I thought I had clarified that there would be NO COST to divers not engaged in selling a service( like instruction) at the bridge....it will always be free to the trolls, and to dive tourists.
I just dont see the shops that bring students and tanks and lunch, as tourists.
These shops are illegally selling a service at the BHB, without a permit. Finally this is about to change.....how much they are about to be charged for their permits, I have no idea. I only indicated that I'd like it to be enough to remove the shops with a serious anti-tourism and anti-local effect.
Well, then...Let me introduce you to my 20 friends! We all met at my shop, and since they're my
Friends, I'm not charging to teach them- aren't I a great guy? (Chorus of cheers, men enthusiastically shake my hand, single women swoon at my generous offer.. :d)
Since I'm not conducting business, I don't need no stinking permit. We're all just tourists here; and enjoying a great cookout to boot. What's that you say; you know they paid me? Well, since that was back at my shop, and outside your jurisdiction to enforce...
prove it. By the way, next week? My other 20 friends will be along too!
Face it, these people are tourists. Just because they don't spend the amount of money
you like doesn't mean they should be discriminated against. They're not illegally selling anything at the bridge- the sale was made at a different site. There isn't a law against instruction without a permit, is there?
So what if they save money by not getting fills, and bringing their own food? That's their perogative- not your business. You don't know where they are staying; if they are getting fills or where they bought their food. That's their business; not mine; not yours, not the governments. What about all the other people who show up to grill food? They may not have bought food locally; should we kick them out, too? Or require a grilling permit? After all; they're taking business from the local restaurants too.
I've got a better solution. Make a permit required for all instruction, but you can get one for free at the site at the enforcer's shack; simply by showing your Instructor Card and signing a Diving Best Practices agreement- where all these (diving) things are banned. If you or your students violate it repeatedly after warnings; you're no longer welcome to teach there- and your name goes on a list. All divers must show their card, and sign the waiver. Hell; you could even do this online; make an app to do it, and you get a number that can be quickly referenced if there's a question. This also reduces the County's liability. Make the shops that want to play cop responsible for manning and paying. They can take donations, but don't charge people for having a good time.
---------- Post added July 16th, 2014 at 11:27 AM ----------
Which is why I would suggest you and Scuba Jenny, and jimw, and Djtimmy, and Divadiva, MrChen,
Anne Dupont and the Nudie Girls, and all the other regulars --- make up a wish list that you would want to share with the new guys.
You can be certain they will be monitoring this thread
Sure, I can give my..wait, what?
Who?
I need to get back down to the bridge....
I think some introductions may be in order, danvolker.