Tag Archives: Dan Rodgers

Fishermen charged in Truck Beach trespass case say delay in proceedings violates right to due process

East Hampton fishermen rallied on the steps of the Supreme Court building in Riverhead last week to decry actions tied to a civil case that they said not only deprives them of beach rights but threatens their right to due process. Last month, a Suffolk County Supreme Court judge temporarily delayed criminal proceedings against the 14 East Hampton residents cited for trespassing on an Amagansett beach known as Truck Beach and long popular for 4×4 vehicles. The men were issued the summons during an Oct. 17 act of civil disobedience ,,, Dan Rodgers, who is representing the men charged with trespass,,, “We believe the homeowners have first stolen the beach and now they’re stealing their rights,”,,, >click to read<  08:33

East Hampton Eyes Options After Losing Truck Beach Appeal – Fishermen, “We’re not going away,,,”

New York State’s highest court buried the Town of East Hampton’s bid to overturn a ruling that Truck Beach in Amagansett is private property, but the fight appears to be far from over. Meanwhile the fishermen who’ve been plying the contested waters intend on fighting for their tradition that dates back three centuries to Colonial times. Critics drove on the beach in protest of a prior ruling that barred them from doing so, and are now prepared to go to jail over the issue. “We’re not going away and if we have to go down there every single weekend to make that point we’ll do that,” said Dan Rodgers, a Southampton-based attorney who represents a group of commercial fishermen that are effected by the decision. “And if the homeowners have the courage to stand up and file a trespassing complaint…we’ll go off in handcuffs, my clients will go off to jail and we’ll fight this out in court. They’re willing to do that. >click to read< 14:01

State of New York finalizes safe harbor rules for commercial fishermen

New York has finalized guidelines for commercial fishing boats seeking safe harbor in storms and other adverse conditions, eight months after the state lost a court case against one East End fisherman because the rules weren’t in writing. The state Department of Environmental Conservation says the new safe harbor guidelines will give clarity to fishing boat captains faced with potential dangers at sea by defining the conditions under which they can seek permission to enter New York ports while on federally registered commercial fishing trips. The guidelines require captains to notify the DEC before entering port in the state to seek permission to enter. The DEC said the rules were welcomed by fishermen, but one local fishing advocate argued the guidelines are “toothless” because they don’t grant fishermen any rights. Read the story here 07:56