Port Aransas is turning a part-time beach enforcement job into a full-time position to help make sure people are following local rules more consistently.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — City of Port Aransas approved a full-time beach enforcement position to ensure the beach safe.

With more visitors hitting the sand each year, Port Aransas Chief James Stokes said the city’s response also needs to grow. 

“So being able to have somebody that is dedicated down there, that can educate people on the rules of the beach and to be able to enforce the ordinances that we have regulating things down on the beach will take some of the workload off of regular police officers,” Stokes said. 

A part-time enforcement officer role is now becoming full-time.

For parents like Kaitlan Thompson, who brings her four kids to the beach, the move brings peace of mind.

“So I think it’ll be nice. It’ll be a lot easier. There’ll probably be less crashes. My kids won’t be traumatized to come to the beach because there’s going to be somebody with the safety,” Thompson said.

Stokes said this position is needed more than ever as beach violations have increased.

“Last year I think we wrote around 3,300 citations for no beach parking permit and we’re around 2,600 violations for this year to date so far,” Stokes said.

And when it comes to citations, one issue stands out above the rest.

“The highest violation we have is not having a beach parking permit as required but they will also be able to do other enforcement  litter, trash on the beach. Some other ordinances that we have, violation of three day camping ordinances or things of that nature,” Stokes said.

Stokes said the violations have increased over the years. 

Beyond enforcement, Stokes said those beach permits serve a much bigger purpose.

“The importance of the beach parking sticker is that the the funds raised from the sale of those stickers is what goes to maintain the beach. That’s where we keep the roadways going, be able to pick up the trash and make sure that they have a good clean, maintained beach,” Stokes said. 

The city-funded role could be filled by month’s end. No police experience is needed, but code enforcement certification is preferred.

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