DUNEDIN, Fla. — The Dunedin City Council voted unanimously Thursday to prohibit the launch of motorized vehicles from the south side of the Dunedin Causeway. The new ordinance extends the ban that has been in place since the 2024 hurricanes.
Locals say the decision is a win for the environment, particularly for sea grass growth and wildlife in the area.
"Even coming here to have a coffee, you could see pods and pods of dolphins, manatees," said Daniel Bolduc, a local resident who walks the Causeway multiple times a week.
Public safety is also a driving factor behind the decision. Data sent out from the City shows the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office reported 80 jet-ski-related incidents between January 2022 and April 2026.
One concern raised involves the unpredictability of sandbars following major storms that alter the configuration of the water.
"Somebody who is not familiar with the shifts of the sandbars after a significant storm like that, they don't know," said Bolduc.
Not everyone supports the ban.
When the ordinance was first suggested in July, Tampa Bay 28 spoke with Randy Cabrera, founder and CEO of Florida Ski Riders, who said the ordinance is a loss for his community.
"You know, you'll see grandfathers and grandsons out here launching their John boats. You'll see people out here launching their sailboats," Cabrera said.
The City says the ordinance does not affect the operation of motorized watercraft in the Intracoastal Waterway or St. Joseph Sound. The closest public launch spot to the causeway is Sutherland Bayou Boat Ramp, 4 miles away. A full list of nearby launch ramps to the Causeway can be found here.
Fines will be enforced by the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office. First-time violators will receive a warning. A repeat violation carries an uncontested fine of $93 and $138, if contested. The City also has the right to impose a $500 fine for repeat offenders.
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