Sarasota County leaders have backed away from a proposed ordinance that would have banned motorboats near the shore of South Lido Beach and Ted Sperling Park, opting instead to pursue the creation of an Idle Speed, No Wake Zone.
The decision, finalized after a public hearing and input from law enforcement and legal teams, reflects the complexity of regulating Florida waterways. A full motorboat ban would have required lengthy and rigorous approval from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), whereas the creation of an idle speed zone is a more immediately achievable action under local authority.
Safety Concerns Drive the Change
The push for new water restrictions follows years of escalating public safety concerns and complaints from South Lido residents and non-motorized watercraft users (kayakers, paddleboarders, and swimmers). Residents presented the County Commission with eyewitness accounts and video showing reckless operation, particularly by personal watercraft (jet ski) users, who were frequently seen speeding dangerously close to the shore.
The issue was tragically underscored by a fatal jet ski collision in the summer that killed Luis Guevara, a 22-year-old minor league baseball player for the Baltimore Orioles, accelerating the County’s move to regulate the chaotic area.
From Ban to ‘No Wake’
Initially, the County Commission considered a full exclusion zone that would prohibit motorized vessels within 300 feet of the park’s boundary. However, during the review process, law enforcement expressed concerns about the difficulty of enforcing a total ban. Furthermore, the legal and regulatory hurdle of securing FWC approval for a motorboat exclusion zone—which requires the state to determine it is “necessary to protect public safety”—was seen as a significant potential roadblock.
By pivoting to an Idle Speed, No Wake Zone, the County aims to:
• Reduce speed and wakes near the popular recreational area, minimizing the risk of collisions between motorized vessels and non-motorized users.
• Implement the safety measure faster, as a No Wake designation is easier to establish locally.
• Provide immediate relief to residents who have long called for action to restore order and safety to the popular area.
The County has been authorized to proceed with the process of establishing the idle speed zone.
