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[headdunce]

abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local&id=8509040&rss=rss-wls-article-8509040

January 17, 2012 -- Police arrested a man surfing in Lake Michigan Tuesday evening on the Near North Side.

Police from the Near North District and Marine Unit responded about 5 p.m. to a report of a man surfing in Lake Michigan off Oak Street Beach in the 1000 block of North Lake Shore Drive, police said.

Officers took the man into custody and charges are pending, police said. It was not immediately clear what the man would be charged with.

;D

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Oh...leave him be.

If he wants to surf, let him.

Surfer Joe...

[RobbW]

Arrested? On what possible charge? Jeez, so much for land of the free!

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Charged with Dis-orderly conduct.

Anarchy now!

[headdunce]

Video here -
www.surfermag.com/features/chicago-surfer-arrested/

When asked if the session was worth the jail time, Flodstrom chuckled. “Yeah, it was actually pretty good…for a lake. But yeah, if I were able to surf my home spot and go take a hot shower, then it would’ve been a great session. But if I’d had known that I would be arrested and would have to spend four hours in a holding cell in a freezing wetsuit, then I probably wouldn’t have paddled out.”

[erikruud]

This part explains the reason for the arrest.

Until recently, surfing was completely banned in Chicago. The law was reportedly enacted after a deadly tragedy that involved three girls and an inflatable raft. As a result, the city banned all floatable devices, including surfboards.

But in 2009, backed by efforts from a group that would later become the Surfrider Foundation Chicago Chapter, the city lifted the ban on surfing in certain beaches. Presently, there are four breaks accessible to surfers in the winter months while two breaks are accessible in the summer.

[RobbW]

Jan 19, 2012 7:54:19 GMT -6 erikruud said:

This part explains the reason for the arrest.

Until recently, surfing was completely banned in Chicago. The law was reportedly enacted after a deadly tragedy that involved three girls and an inflatable raft. As a result, the city banned all floatable devices, including surfboards.

Aren't boats technically floatable devices? yet, I see them on the lake at all times!

[Paulie pchris00]

Jan 19, 2012 11:57:17 GMT -6 RobbW said:

Jan 19, 2012 7:54:19 GMT -6 erikruud said:

This part explains the reason for the arrest.

Aren't boats technically floatable devices? yet, I see them on the lake at all times!

I was thinking the same thing. Maybe that's why the law has been repealed?

[erikruud]

Wait a minute! You guys are expecting the laws to make sense?

[headdunce]

espn.go.com/action/surfing/story/_/id/7582977/chicago-surfer-arrested-january-plea-bargains-community-service

Flodstrom was offered a deal for violating three Chicago Park District ordinances. To keep from going to trial, Flodstrom, a warehouse worker and artist, agreed to 20 hours of community service.