Public statement from the NSS-CDS

[Kelly Jessop]

The Cave Diving Section of the National Speleological Section has always made cave conservation its mandate. The board of directors is appalled at any cave defacement,especially the recent events. We have made it our policy to offer a $1000 reward for information leading to the prosecution of anybody found guilty of cave vandalism (Florida Statute 810.13). Any tips can be sent to chairman@nsscds.org
Sincerely
Kelly Jessop
Chairman NSS-CDS.

[Ken Hill]

Kelly,
This is sad but necessary way to deter the next person from committing such a heinous act and seeking punishment for the person(s) that committed the recent ones. I fully support the principle of a reward for the person supplying information leading to arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible.

I personally pursued the purchase of Cow for many years so that we all would have a lifetime enjoyment of its beauty and challenges. Therefore I would like to add $100.00 to the amount offered by the CDS, should the CDS reward be claimed.

/Ken Hill

[Kelly Jessop]

Thank you for your generous offer Ken.

[johnnyrichards]

Unintentional damage resulting from poor trim and awareness is bad enough- intentional acts of vandalism must not be tolerated.

I will add $100.00 to the reward.

Johnny Richards

[Jim Wyatt]

I will add $100.00 to the reward.

Count me in for another $100.00

Jim

[Caver95]

I will add one round house kick to the face.

[Puttzer]

So how does one formally add $ to the bounty for capture/conviction?

Does the CDS have a set method for donations?

Richard
Tallahassee

[MengTze]

....deleted since OFG already made similar comments in a different thread...---> go see 'what message doe we send' thread.

[J P Jones]

I will add a hundred to the fund.

[defunct]

Hate to break it to you... but actually... according the the wording of the Florida State Statute 810.13 aren't we ALL (cavedivers) breaking the law?

(2) VANDALISM.--It is unlawful for any person, without the prior written permission of the owner, to:

(a) Break, break off, crack, carve upon, write upon, burn, mark upon, remove, or in any manner destroy, disturb, deface, mar, or harm the surfaces of any cave or any natural material which may be found therein, whether attached or broken, including speleothems, speleogens, or sedimentary deposits. This paragraph does not prohibit minimal disturbance or removal for scientific inquiry.

(b) Break, force, tamper with, or otherwise disturb a lock, gate, door, or other obstruction designed to control or prevent access to a cave, even though entrance thereto may not be gained.

(c) Remove, deface, or tamper with a sign stating that a cave is posted or citing provisions of this act.

How many of the divers diving the caves are in there for "scientific inquiry"?

BTW, I like how the reward is now higher then the maximum penalty. My guess is that with a first time offense a judge will likely only give one a small fine (as there is not many cases for him to review for this).

Thus, since I broke that statute the last time I dove a cave, I might as well turn myself in... get $1500 from the CDS and those that have "added" to the fund, get slapped with a misdemeanor (which will easily be bargined down with the DA because of turning myself in) and pay the $500 fine that the judge would impose. I would make out with $1K profit for a small amount of time dedicated. Then I could make a killing turning in every cavediver that has dove Ginnie within the last year. I mean it would be easy to subpoena the waivers from Ginnie and go right down the list...

We must tread VERY lightly when rounding up the town for a witchhunt... when the definition we are using for "witch" includes the very people doing the hunting...