What are Towns thinking? They own Nature now?
I’m sure and I hope this sign is made for Commercial Companys that would haul away the rocks and smash them into decorative stones for Driveways and road shoulders.
“I’ll give you my rocks when you pry them from my cold, dead hands“
-Paul F. Frontiero Jr.
Good Morning Gloucester 
what about the sand in my car from chairs, towel, bathing suits, etc.
LikeLike
LOL Donna!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’ll have to shake them out or just go to a Gloucester Beach Donna. I’m not impressed with Rockport beaches.
LikeLike
“MGL” means Massachusetts General Laws. Not Town of Rockport By – Laws.
LikeLike
I don’t know, it seems to make sense given the thousands of visitors to their beaches. If everyone took a few rocks, shells, and sand (or even a bucketful), eventually, after years of this, there could be a real problem. I little deterrent doesn’t hurt. I doubt cops are out there writing people up, much like they seems to turn a blind eye to the dog poop situation. A little signage is a gentle nudge in the right direction. Just a thought.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Cop
LikeLike
It isn’t the town it is the State:
MGL 91 Section 30A. Whoever removes stones, gravel, sand or other material from any natural barrier on land bordering on the sea, which barrier furnishes protection to such land and adjacent upland against erosion by the sea shall be punished by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars.
The superior court shall have jurisdiction in equity to enforce the provisions of this section. A petition for such enforcement may be filed by the attorney general, the selectmen of the town or the mayor of a city in which such barrier is located, or any person who may suffer damage in his property by such removal.
LikeLike
You are in the clear PaulF since you actually do not remove the rock. The person who finds it would be arrested for breaking Mass Gen Law Ch91 Sec30a.
You would be arrested for an act relative to graffiti Gen Law Sec 1 Ch 266
LikeLike
We will turn each other in then.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Paul, I think it is directed (at least I hope), as you suggest, towards contractors, not to the persons collecting a few shells and rocks for art projects and hobbies. New shells are continually being created by sea creatures and rocks and shells are constantly being tossed upon the shores.v
LikeLike
I think the town of rockport removes a lot during the good weather. I’ve been there when the rocks were piled high and the next week they were gone.
LikeLike
Thanks for the info Funkyfresh and Diane. I’ll just stick with Cressy’s Beach from now on. I got some beautiful one’s there Saturday and Ieft one “Art, Rocks!” behind. A Tourist from Alabama found it.
LikeLike
I see this in the police notes all the time. Usually the cops just give them people taking the rocks a warning. And why aren’t you impressed with Rockport beaches? In my opinion, Cape Hedge and Long are much nicer than Good harbor.
LikeLike
Hmmmm, moseying on up to Rye Beach under the cover of darkness she creeps…..
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is an outrage!
LikeLike
I’m going to have to disguise my tent weights.
LikeLike
This is Chapter 91 – a state law determining the rules of the intertidal zone (the tidal area between high water and low water). There’s quite a bit of case law on this. In one case, a judge ruled it was legal to remove shellfish from the flats, but the mud that was on them had to stay.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love this comment thread. It’s got everything: art, rocks, art-rocks, Rockport-Gloucester beach competition, police notes, and case law.
LikeLike
RES kids have a summer project to collect sea glass for an assignment. The courts may be chock full of 7-11 year olds next week….
LikeLike
If no one has anything better to do, please contact your State Representative and give them a piece of your mind. Tell them Joey C told you to call. That would great and FUNNY. Thanks
LikeLike
I have been collecting driftwood and beach glass and have seen people in cars loading their trunks with poppies at back beach. I am not sure if they are using them in landscaping or not but it does seem excessive. I have seen it happen often when I am walking. I am glad they posted the signs to let people know that they should not be taking them. I don’t think anyone is going to get upset by someone bringing home a rock to paint or as a memory from a visit. I think the sign is more geared to those taking an abundance.
LikeLike
Paul,
You sparked my curiosty here…so I did a quick look…Just the messenger no shots fired please 🙂
This must be recent laws as I don’t remember any of these back in the 50’s – 60’s. The PDF is rather long but goes into detail about why global warming and shoreline etc and the other link is the actual MGL legislative site MA…I do remember the big sand piles along route 128 for winter snows etc…
https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleXIV/Chapter91
http://lawdigitalcommons.bc.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2103&context=ealr
Section 30. If it appears to the department that the digging or removal of stones, gravel, sand or other material, upon or from any beach, shore, bluff, headland, island or bar, in or bordering on tide waters, or the destruction of any trees, shrubs, grass or other vegetation growing thereon, is, or is likely to prove, injurious to any harbor or other navigable tide waters, the department may, by written notice, prohibit such digging or removal, or the doing of any acts injurious to such trees or other vegetation, upon or from any such beach or other place aforesaid specified in such notice. Whoever, after receiving such notice, wilfully does any act or thing prohibited therein, and which is authorized to be so prohibited by this section, or, being the owner or having the control of any land specified in such notice, wilfully suffers or permits such act or thing to be done thereon, shall be punished by a fine of not less than twenty nor more than two hundred dollars.
Section 30A. Whoever removes stones, gravel, sand or other material from any natural barrier on land bordering on the sea, which barrier furnishes protection to such land and adjacent upland against erosion by the sea shall be punished by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars.
The superior court shall have jurisdiction in equity to enforce the provisions of this section. A petition for such enforcement may be filed by the attorney general, the selectmen of the town or the mayor of a city in which such barrier is located, or any person who may suffer damage in his property by such removal.
🙂 Dave & Kim:-)
LikeLike
Cape Hedge is the best beach around, but don’t tell anyone!
LikeLike