There are plenty of pretty shells that wash up on the beaches along Florida’s shores — but tourists would be well-advised to make sure that any that they take aren’t still in use. Otherwise, they might end up in jail.
A tourist from Texas found out the hard way that Florida is serious about its efforts to protect certain marine species. In this case, the woman filled three plastic bins with live queen conchs during her vacation. Her intention was to use the shells (once they’d been emptied of their owners) as gifts for her family and friends.
Gathering empty seashells is perfectly acceptable, but it’s not permitted to gather live queen conchs. An anonymous tipster turned the woman in to local police, and she was arrested. At her hearing for the crime, she told the judge that she didn’t realize taking the live queen conchs for their shells was illegal. The judge still sentenced the Texan to 15 days of jail time — although he did agree to spare her from a permanent criminal record.
Cases like this are good to note because they illustrate the importance of understanding local and state laws when you are on vacation, particularly if you plan to harvest natural resources. Different states can have vastly different laws, and the police actively enforce conservation efforts to protect natural elements against depletion. This advice is important to keep in mind whether you plan to harvest plants, animals or even something like rocks.
In addition, it’s important to realize that you shouldn’t get too caught up with a carefree attitude while you’re on vacation — because that’s often what gets tourists in trouble with the law. If you want to gather up souvenirs from your trip, it’s often safer to do it in a gift shop. If you’re determined to gather them yourself, make sure that you inquire about any restrictions first.