Miami-Dade issuing property tax notice on yachts

[SoWhat]

By the USCG's definition of a vessel it fits whether documented/registered or not.

I could document a Radio Flyer wagon as an unclassified vessel. USCG would therefore deem it a vessel. Irrelevant to FL regulations.

The barge may still be a floating structure under FL regulations per Florida Statute section 327.02. FL will get their tax money.

 

[psneeld]

I could document a Radio Flyer wagon as an unclassified vessel. USCG would therefore deem it a vessel. Irrelevant to FL regulations.

The barge may still be a floating structure under FL regulations per Florida Statute section 327.02. FL will get their tax money.

OK...whatever... the USCG deems it a vessel....I DON'T CARE what you want to make out of it. Or how you see the world or twist things.

And no, they wouldn't document a Radio Flyer wagon for multiple reasons but I guess you think you know better.

AND I wasn't referring to Florida in the segment you quoted..... so again...who CARES!


or is that SoWhat?

 

[Mac2]

Another point to consider. This "yacht" functions like a dry dock. If you look close, you can see the four cylinders at the corners. These lower to the bottom and raise the structure to a level platform. Is this anchoring? Do they allow yachts to anchor next to shore? I seriously doubt it. Seems like it would be a simple solution to tell him to raise the pilings, or be deemed a house.

 

[SoWhat]

Another point to consider. This "yacht" functions like a dry dock. If you look close, you can see the four cylinders at the corners. These lower to the bottom and raise the structure to a level platform. Is this anchoring? Do they allow yachts to anchor next to shore? I seriously doubt it. Seems like it would be a simple solution to tell him to raise the pilings, or be deemed a house.

The 4 posts are called "spuds" and they anchor the structure to the bottom.
They probably do not have the power to raise the structure. They are likely in violation of FL anchoring regs with a fine of $250/day unless he has a permit.

 

[Mac2]

The 4 posts are called "spuds" and they anchor the structure to the bottom.
They probably do not have the power to raise the structure. They are likely in violation of FL anchoring regs with a fine of $250/day unless he has a permit.

Oops! I now see you covered this in your earlier post. It will be interesting to see how this turns out.

 

[psneeld]

Not sure spudding down, close to shore or any other place a vessel can or would anchor changes anything.

I didn't see anything addressing spudding down in Florida's anchoring laws.

I used to tow spud barges around and it seemed the crews would select any old spot until they were ready to work on a specific bulkhead or dock.

The Arkup website describes the spuds as able to lift the boat off the water.

 

[Porgy]

“Florida 327.02 (47) “Vessel” is synonymous with boat as referenced in s. 1(b), Art. VII of the State Constitution and includes every description of watercraft, barge, and airboat, other than a seaplane on the water, used or capable of being used as a means of transportation on water.”

Sounds like a boat to me. Odd that all manner of cuboid shaped houseboats ply the waters and no one blinks, yet some would draw the line with this one.

 

[psneeld]

“Florida 327.02 (47) “Vessel” is synonymous with boat as referenced in s. 1(b), Art. VII of the State Constitution and includes every description of watercraft, barge, and airboat, other than a seaplane on the water, used or capable of being used as a means of transportation on water.”

Sounds like a boat to me. Odd that all manner of cuboid shaped houseboats ply the waters and no one blinks, yet some would draw the line with this one.

In Florida, the technicality is somewhat how the "vessel" is used. There is something like 3 definitions that most of us would simply call "liveaboard"....

Several magazine articles written about Florida's restrictive anchoring laws suggested anyone who lives aboard in Florida, describe themselves as " full time cruisers" rather than " liveaboard" which has a narrower and more restrictive connotation in the law.

But I do agree if this vessel is in front of the "owner's" house and goes for rides occasionally, it meets the definition of vessel to me, and then it's the quantity of time it goes for rides and time it sits with people sleeping aboard that may run afoul of the several precise legal determinations.

Obviously the local government must see it fitting one of those "other" categories.

 

[BandB]

Obviously the local government must see it fitting one of those "other" categories.

And just imagine for a moment that this ends up in court before a "jury of peers." Peers? Let's see, mostly poorer jurors who hate taxes but don't like insanely wealthy people any better and know nothing about huge boats or waterfront homes. And now they must decide on technicalities of law argued by experts on both sides. Likely, they do a great job evaluating the law because they dislike the two parties to the suit equally.

 

[Bigsfish]

Jury of one’s peers is a fallacy or murderers would be judged by other murderers.

 

[SoWhat]

I didn't see anything addressing spudding down in Florida's anchoring laws.

Clearly covered under 327.4109(4)

 

[Porgy]

“(4) The owner or operator of a vessel or floating structure may not anchor, moor, tie, or otherwise affix or allow the vessel or floating structure to remain anchored, moored, tied, or otherwise affixed to an unpermitted, unauthorized, or otherwise unlawful object that is on or affixed to the bottom of the waters of this state. This subsection does not apply to a private mooring owned by the owner of privately owned submerged lands.“

I don’t see how that applies to spuds. Could just as easily apply to any anchor at all. It sounds to me like it says you need a permit to sink a mooring unless you own the submerged lands.

 

[FWT]

I could document a Radio Flyer wagon as an unclassified vessel. USCG would therefore deem it a vessel. Irrelevant to FL regulations.

The barge may still be a floating structure under FL regulations per Florida Statute section 327.02. FL will get their tax money.

Coast Guard documentation has a minimum tonnage requirement.

(I looked it up the other day to see if a dingy could be registered to avoid dealing with the State. Nope.)

 

[psneeld]

Jury of one’s peers is a fallacy or murderers would be judged by other murderers.

I think you are on to something Irv!

 

[psneeld]

Clearly covered under 327.4109(4)

Clear to you maybe......

 

[Bigsfish]

Scott I served on one just, a Haitian male (is ther allowed) killed his girlfriend because he thought she gave him aids. She didn’t have it. I was elected foreman and we agreed that he was guilty in less than 30 minutes. Did he have a jury of his peers? Nope