34.54%	Yes
65.45%	No

Comment: Whats sad is we are trying to make common sense law. from Pensacola, FL by Flower

Comment: OBVIOUSLY this is the RIGHT thing to do. Taking away the possibilities of unnecessary loss of life is the only thing that makes since. The families that often get the news that their love one drown in our town can breath a little easier. from p'cola, Fl by r

Comment: I certainly do feel they should have more power after all they are putting their lives on the line to help these people. from Fort Walton Beach by Linda L

Comment: It would be strongly advisable to have red flags enforced. Tourists really don't understand the power of the water. They see surfers in the water and think they have the same swimming ability. It can be a deadly mistake. Let's save lives and keep Pensacola's good name. from Pensacola by Karen

Comment: YES I THINK THEY SHOULD BE ENFORCED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT BECAUSE, THE RED FLAGS ARE FLYING FOR A REASON, THE LIFEGUARDS HAVE ENOUGH TROUBLE TRYING TO SAVE THEM IN THE FIRST PLACE. WHY SHOULD THE LIFEGUARDS SAVE THE DUMBIES LIVES WHO IGNORE THEIR WARNINGS AND RISK THEIR OWN LIVES. from pensacola, fl by noel

Comment: Are you kidding. There is no way we should expect our trained lifeguards to rescue someone that can or won't read what these flags mean. Give them a huge fine. They may not come back-but we also won't have to bury them. from Shalimar/florida by David

Comment: I was born and raised in Hawaii taking to the water and surfing early in life! I have been accustomed to surfing waves that exceed what Gulf Official’s consider, a red flag event. I believe individuals should be given the opportunity to venture into the water as long as they proper protective equipment. A leash for your surfboard and leash and fins for body-boards. Bottom line, people need to know their abilities and limitations before entering water! Besides, our law enforcement officials have better things to do like going after real criminals!!!! from Pensacola, FL by John

Comment: Yes swimmers should be ticketed for going in the water on a red flag day because most of the peoplem that go into the water are inexperienced swimmers. my only concern for that is for us surfers..... the only time we get waves is usually on a red flag day. from fort walton beach , fl by amelia

Comment: If that what it takes to keep people out of the water when red flags are up, yes. Life guards call police. Once this is know as an enforcement by life guards more people will not go in the water. from Navarre. Fl. by C J

Comment: The gov't already is involved too much in managing people's lives. The flags provide a service by warning people of beach conditions, but people should be able to make their own decisions regarding their health as long as it doesn't impact the health of others.

Comment: Absolutely not! This is absurd. If a person requires the assistance of the lifeguards in a rescue situation, then they should be required to comply with the "no swim" flag. If an individual has the skills & physical abilty to swim & not require lifeguard help, then it's their right to swim. This is nothing more than a power grab attempt. Lawsuits against the commission WILL be brought to bear if this happens. from Gulf Breeze, FL by Steve

Comment: Laws were created for the purpose of living in a society's standard; they were never intended for the restriction of personal freedoms to which we are loosing each day. from Pensacola, FL by Steve

Comment: no if it doesn't include surfers you are going to have trouble. how do tell 1 group to get out and another? from pace Fl by Dan

Comment: NO. Thank you very much for the suggestion and warning. I'm tired of anybody with any bit of athority trying to control everything I do. I believe that everyone has the right to chose when and where they swim. With that choice comes responsibility which is something that everyone needs to learn to accept. from Milton by Wayne

Comment: Yes,Please yes some of us are just stupid to the point of no return. from Fort Walton Beach,FL by Manuel

Comment: I think adults should be responsible for their own actions. If an adult decides to get in the water on a Red Flag day, there should be a warning sign saying, "Do not enter water, when the red flag is posted. Failure in following the warning may result in injury or death. Emergency rescuers will not response to someone in the water on a Red Flag day." from Milton FL by Judy

Comment: Yes, the life gaurds are there to protect the people who may fall in distress, with out warning. They are not there to risk their lifes because a individual choose to be stupid and ignore warnings. If you have to be rescued from any situation by a rescue survice after being warned you should have to pay. You put others lives at risk because you refuse to pay attention to the warnings that have been place by professionals. from Pensacola, Fl by Mickey

Comment: People should be free to go in the water. The lifeguards should also be free to refuse rescue. Thank you. from Pensacola Fl by Allen

Comment: I believe that it is unnecessary. The people who do not heed the warning signs will not heed the lifeguards either even with a stiff fine and jail time. There are just some people who are going to do what they think they have a right to do. If that means killing themselves or putting themselves in harms way, they don't care. I do think the lifeguards should let them know that it is life threatening and watch them because they won't listen to the life guards and will have to be rescued if possible. from Pensacola, Fl by Mary

Comment: When there is a red flag they also need to put up a sign that says "Swim with a red flag, leave in a body bag." from Cantonment, FL by Lesa

Comment: Lifeguards who needs them we have went without lifeguards for generations now here we are spending money we do not need to this all started over some journalist that came down here and drowned so now we have to be Protected HOW STUPID from Pensacola by Babe

Comment: More regulation is the last thing we need -let natural selection run it's course. If you're dumb enough to jump in while the red flag is flying, then you do so at your own risk. Life guards should not be required to rescue blatant violators and risk their lives. from Gulf Breeze by John

Comment: Yes they should!! You know how people are; they want to do what they want - so therefore they should be subject to arrest for not obeying the 'rules'! from Milton, FL by Carol

Comment: leave this alone...if some fool wants to risk killing themselves...let them! this is a prime example of evolution at work...and leave the surfers alone... from p'cola fl by h

Comment: We are adults,as long as it is posted, it's a public beach we should be able to make that decision on our on. from Pensacola Beach by Carlette

Comment: for a surfer, red flag means surfs up, tourists get out of the water. it's not enforceble, all a surfer has to say is "I didn't see or hear you asking me to come out". Consider from surfers view, if you wave me in, you believe I CAN come in, so what's the problem. If you don't believe I can come in, why aren't you out here assisting me instead of waving at me. from jacksonville/florida by robert

Comment: Government can give us the information, We are adults we can make our own decisions. from Oriole Beach, Fl by Bill

Comment: No matter how much we learn, there is one constant about humanity -- they have to be protected from themselves. Regardless of posting a red flag or not, if people are so naive and want to risk their lives over a 'dip' in the water; I'm sorry I can't understand human compulsion to do what you know is not good for you. Makes you wonder if these same people would voluntarily stand in front of a speeding bullet, to see for themselves whether or not blood will spill when they get hit. Jumping in the Gulf is no different when there are 'red flags' posted, it is in your best interest not to go in. Afterall, you not only are risking your own life, but also the life or lives of whomever may have to go out and rescue you. from Mary Esther, FL. by Tom

Comment: Just how would the deputies get people out of the water when the life guards couldn't do it? I don't think this would be an appropriate "use of force" without having more liability. from Milton,FL by Matt