Water Family wrote on May 15, 2008 12:32 PM:Okay... so who is going to watch the water and those in danger while the lifeguard leaves his tower to chase down someone to give them a ticket for a bottle or for smoking? Are they going to pay for Patrol Lifeguards in addition to the Water Lifeguards? It seems the City is too cheap to pay for more officers or for citation lifeguards... instead they want to put the public at risk by making those there to protect the public in the water issue citations like the police. Where are the police on bikes?

Good wrote on May 15, 2008 3:19 PM:while you are citing a smoker people are drowning. Got to get those evil smokers! Let them pack guns to.

to water family wrote on May 15, 2008 3:51 PM:To answer your question...the friends and family of those ou bring down to the beach with you should be watching.

Having lifeguards issuing citations doesn't put anyone at risk. Lifeguards aren't even in towers in the winter time and everyone seems to get along just fine.

Osider wrote on May 15, 2008 4:24 PM:This is so riduclous. They are taking away from the safety of the water and if you think for one second it doesnt, your clueless. They can already make citizens arrest if need be. Great, now we will have smoking guns in the way of ticket writers on our beaches other than OPD.

Fantastic wrote on May 15, 2008 7:01 PM:Now they can cite Jerry Kern for smoking his cigars on the beach. Finally.

Lifeguard supporter wrote on May 15, 2008 8:49 PM:Working for another lifeguard agency that does cite for infractions, I can tell you first hand that watching the water always comes first. Tickets are written only when the water coverage is adequate and the offender has been warned. Usually a stern warning and call to the police is all it takes to stop the unwanted behavior. Let the lifeguards do what they need to do to assure everyone a safe and enjoyable day at the beach.

osider wrote on May 15, 2008 9:30 PM:the primary job for the lifeguard is to watch the water. and the tower guards would not be the one writing the citations as it says in the article only the chiefs captain and lieutenant can rite citations. so you are not putting anyones life at risk because there is definitely someone watching the water.

JA wrote on May 15, 2008 10:16 PM:Just curious, where does the money these citations generate go? Could that have anything to do with the council's decision?

Osider wrote on May 15, 2008 10:18 PM:Once again great! Now we will have the captains and LT's doing the job of OPD while they could be overseeing a situation that may arise that could mean life or death. The only thing the City is thinking about is revenue!

sp wrote on May 15, 2008 10:50 PM:The lifeguards already deal with it; the fact that people are down there doing these things makes them have to deal with it. All this will do is give them a tool to help them deal with it, if anything it will make them more available to watch the water because they will nip these things in the bud from the get go.

Not good wrote on May 15, 2008 11:29 PM:Will they get vest? Most people urinating in public are drunk. Will they arrest for public intox. or will they call the police like they already do?

Do we pay for thier overtime in court wrote on May 15, 2008 11:30 PM:Will we teach them court room testimony procedures. Will we teach the rules of evidence?

OPD union controls city hall wrote on May 16, 2008 5:35 AM:

The city counsel doesn’t care about public safety they are just trying to find new ways to generate more revenues to make up for the OPD absorbent pay raises. Giving OPD these raises at a time when the economy is in a crisis and the entire state is bankrupt is not only irresponsible but shows the true signs of high levels of city corruption Oceanside.

The Life Gaurd Union control City Hall wrote on May 16, 2008 6:27 AM:I see right thru those speedos!

Anne wrote on May 16, 2008 6:41 AM:This is so ridiculous! What about the people with unleashed dogs walking on the beach, people leaving trash and food to attract more birds, the drinking of alcohol out of cans and paper cups left behind to blow in the wind...Can't these council people think of a more useful job for the lifeguards, like watching the water for swimmers in trouble and riptides???? Come on, get a life and let's work toward a more important goal .... why not ticket the drunk drivers in the parking lots? Why not ticket the people that leave their dogs unleashed to romp, scare people, and relieve themselves on the beach? Why not ticket the people that leave trash to blow in the wind? What is it about someone smoking on the beach in the open air especially if they take their cigarette butts with them???? Smokers are just easy targets!!!

resident wrote on May 16, 2008 7:55 AM:how do you expect them to pay $500,000 for this yaers fireworks. Cite everyone.

Mike wrote on May 16, 2008 8:57 AM:When I was a kid, Buccaneer Beach was a dirt lot. Anyone could smoke or drink and nobody cared, because everyone minded their own business. No cops in their cute short pants riding 4-wheelers, no structure and seldom a problem. My oh my have times changed. I haven't been to the beach in 20-years, and I am glad I have a pool in my backyard.

Roger wrote on May 16, 2008 9:03 AM:Sure hope they'll be issued tasers, keep them smokers in line!

yoda wrote on May 16, 2008 10:21 AM:Question please: Will the life guards cite weed, crack and heroin smokers observed at the beach or just the cigarette felons ?

The beach police will handle this wrote on May 16, 2008 10:32 AM:The Lifeguards will protect your life from smoking, drinking and drowning!

Wow wrote on May 16, 2008 10:33 AM:A real Hawaii 5-0! Baywatch! Ha Ha Ha!

Former State Lifeguard wrote on May 16, 2008 10:35 AM:This will be revisted when a lifeguard with no badge, gun, or self-defense training is assaulted by someone upset with their citation. The city is setting itself up for a lawsuit by putting lifeguards in situations they aren't properly trained or equipped to deal with.

Surfs up dude wrote on May 16, 2008 10:38 AM:Oh wait dude! I see a vilation of the law dude! Let's check it out! Hey dude! Like, you can't smoke on the beach dude! Put that reefer out or else dude! There, that cool! I sorta like this 5-0 thing dude! It's like I am a undercover cop or something! Coooooooooooool !!!!

Yeah right wrote on May 16, 2008 10:39 AM:Like anyone is going to listen to thos skinny little pimple faced kids on the beach! What are they gonna do, blow there stupid little whistle???? Ha Ha Ha!!!!

I can see it now wrote on May 16, 2008 10:42 AM:Jeff Spicoli the Lifeguard cop wanna be trys to stop a guy for smoking! Please!!! Who ordered the pizza? Dude!

Oceanside scenic ghetto beach wrote on May 16, 2008 10:44 AM:With the Oceanside Life Guards/Reserve Police! So where do they put thier ticket book and night clubs if they are only wearing shorts and or speedos! Ha Ha Ha!

Doesnt Oceanside already have Code Enforcement Officers wrote on May 16, 2008 10:49 AM:Who do this! Where are they? This is foolish! The last thing a skinny little life guard wants is to have deal with this! They have tough stuff to do, like talk on their cell phones all day, surf, work on thier tans, and look at girls, etc. Please, these guys won't enforce crap! Most of the offenders are their non-working beach bum buddies! Please! What a crock!

Having the brainless lifeguards doing police work wrote on May 16, 2008 10:53 AM:It's like having a meathead body builder become the State Governer! Oh wait, that did happen! Nevermind! :)

LOL wrote on May 16, 2008 10:58 AM:What a bunch of crybabies! Who is gonna watch the water?!? Who's gonna keep track of my kids so i don't have too?!?! Waaaa, waaa, waaaaaa! Y'all make it seem like if the lifeguard is writing a sitation and someone on the beach yell "someone is drowning!", you think the lifeguard is going to say "sorry ma'am I have to finish writing up this sitation. Can you please go to tower 3 and let them know someone is in trouble!" geez!!!

So many wrote on May 16, 2008 11:05 AM:So many pundits on this thingthink they know what is right... hahahaha fools

Spicoli wrote on May 16, 2008 12:06 PM:I think I'd rather be resued in the water by a cop than cited by a lifeguard. Does that sound right? 101% of the citations issued by lifeguards will be thrown out and dismissed by the court. Just watch

Old Surfer wrote on May 16, 2008 12:22 PM:Only sworn law enforcement personnel should be writting citations. Not quasi law enforcement such as life guards. Let the life guards do what they have always done. Let the cops do what they are supposed to do! Where will it stop. Maybe we should let the lifeguards run the city council!

Hello maam My name is Officer Big KHuna wrote on May 16, 2008 5:41 PM:Sufer Police at your service, dude!

Only in the Ghetto City of Oceanside wrote on May 16, 2008 5:44 PM:A life guard will get hurt or they won't enforce the law! Either way the job isn't getting done! Typical! Thanks Rocky!

This is typical wrote on May 16, 2008 5:54 PM:Oceanside already has unarmed code enforcement officer who work in the river bed and are calling the police to come in save his bacon all the time. This takes away from the regular calls for service! Why don't they just send them to the police academy and have a sworn officer in the river bed. I'll tell ya why! This code enforcement officer doesn't have to go thru a background, nor does a life guard. They don't have to be police officers and the city can pay them less. It is really stupid to be in the river bed as a code enforcement officer and or a life guard on the beach with out the protective equipment and training that police have, and still be responsible to enforce the law! Nopt good! It is just another law suit waiting to happen! That is why Oceanside is getting sued all the time! Who is at the helm in City hall! Why Rocky? Why?

I suppose next we will City Council members the authority to arrest wrote on May 16, 2008 5:56 PM:I can see it now! Deputy Rocky Chavez!

Face it people wrote on May 16, 2008 6:06 PM:Consider who is coming up with these hair brained ideas! The same guy who said Oceanside High School students would be flipping burgers for a career! Rocky please!!!! Stop already! We the life guards of America do not want to be police officers. We want to rescue people! Let the law enforcement people do thier job!

So what wrote on May 16, 2008 7:00 PM:You guys are acting like this is some new thing...Many lifeguards write tickets in other city's, its not that big of a deal. and as for evidence, you dont impound piss and empty cans of beer.....and 90% of tickets do not go to court anyways...stopwith the crying, no one will even notice a difference!

DUKE wrote on May 16, 2008 7:53 PM:I see the lifeguards in my town giving vehicle citations quite a bit while the people on the beach and in the water are not being watched appropriately.

Are their citation books waterproof?

I'll have to give you a speeding ticket, you were traveling far too fast on that wave...

woooohoooooo wrote on May 16, 2008 8:04 PM:Don't tase me bro!

jvc wrote on May 18, 2008 3:47 AM:Save us from the rescuers!

LG wrote on May 18, 2008 10:09 PM:You all need to find a hobby. If everyone is against lifeguards enforcing beach regulations, why does the public ask us to do something about violators? The only education is self education. Ignorant mouths.

None wrote on May 20, 2008 2:25 PM:Not to mention most lifeguards eventually become either law enforcement officers or fire fighters. and as stated above the water will never be left un- watched because the seasonal tower guards will not have cite books just the upper management..

Seems to me the people who are complaining about this are the people who are going to be cited for not educating themselves on law..