A forged public health notice was posted in parts of Santa Cruz as surf bans were lifted last week.
These forged public health notices that showed up around Santa Cruz recently might be the most bold attempt ever to enforce the old local’s edict, “If you don’t live here, don’t surf here.”
On April 17th, the County of Santa Cruz lifted its short-lived ban on surfing and beach access. “We’re seeing a very flattened curve in Santa Cruz County which makes me feel very optimistic,” said Santa Cruz County Health Officer Gail Newell, crediting the community’s willingness to follow social distancing and stay-at-home guidelines over the past few weeks.
Shortly after the ban was lifted, the phony notices were placed around Santa Cruz with guidelines for surfing. Standing out in the notices were warnings that visitors without Santa Cruz County addresses on drivers licenses would be banned from surfing, and any cars without California license plates parked near surf breaks would be subject to citations (as did the part about “taking turns”).
“That is our letterhead,” County Spokesman Jason Hoppin told The Inertia Monday, “[but] they are forged.”
Hoppin says the fake notices were placed all over the west side of town and described as an “organized” effort. “They meant to access these spots along the coast,” he said.
While he did say the notes are technically misrepresenting a public health notice, the department won’t be putting much effort into resolving the mix up beyond removing the notices when they’re found. And it’s not the first time this has happened, he pointed out, with fake warnings of shark sightings popping up from time to time in the past as well.
It’s worth noting that even though the notice is forged, locals who can access waves now without driving are technically the only ones still complying with California’s stay-at-home orders. Governor Gavin Newsom’s original March 19th order called for driving for essential purposes only – outlined as commuting to jobs for essential workers, trips to grocery stores, and driving for medical purposes. Outdoor activities and exercise are permitted but only when they don’t require driving to access locations, which is the main rationale behind closing off parks, hiking trails, and beaches where open access can encourage travel and create large gatherings.
