By HEATHER WALTERS
Edisto Beach officials are gearing up for its busiest time of the year – Spring Break.
This year brings many unknowns to the town’s police force, including when all of the high school and college spring breakers will arrive. “With the pandemic, some schools are virtual, some schools aren’t having a full week of spring break and others are. The unknown is what we are going to have, but we know they are coming,” said Edisto Beach Police Chief George Brouthers.
According to Brouthers, Edisto Beach was crowded with college spring breakers during the first week of March. Last week, however, Brouthers said the beach population was sparse.
Regardless of when the crowds hit, Brouthers said Spring Break continues to be the town’s busiest time of year. The second is followed by Memorial Day, the official kick off to the summer season.
The third busiest time for the beach, as far as the number of people who come to Edisto, is the Fourth of July. According to Brouthers, the number of people visiting the coastal town – including both day visitors and overnight tourists – have continued to increase even during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2020, the town’s police department counted 502,416 cars that came into the town’s municipal limits. In 2019, there were 482,435 cars.
The Edisto Beach Police Department uses a license plate recognition system that is installed on the causeway to count cars.
“The traffic has doubled since I have been here,” said Brouthers. Brouthers has been the chief of the town’s police department for six years. According to him, approximately six years, the department counted 252,777 cars counted coming onto the beach.
Regardless of who comes and when, Brouthers said he wants to remind all residents and guests of constant beach rules. “We continue to have problems with people bringing glass onto the beach and with people violating state golf cart rules,” he said.
The Colleton County Sheriff’s Office will also be sending all of its designated School Resource Officers to the Edisto Beach to assist with additional tourists during Spring Break, according to Shalane Lowes, spokeswoman for the sheriff’s office.
Colleton County School District is having its Spring Break from April 2nd through April 5th. The break may also include April 6th, which is currently deemed an inclement weather makeup day.
The district had to shorten Spring Break so the students would have the state-mandated 180 days of instruction, as required by law.
Please see the list of Edisto Beach Ordinances below:
Mask Ordinances
While S.C. Governor Henry McMaster has lifted the ban preventing crowds from gathering, the Town of Edisto Beach and the County of Colleton still have mask ordinances in effect. The town requires that a mask be worn while indoors, including restaurants, shopping plazas and businesses. The fine for violating this ordinance is $25 per occurrence.
Using drones at the beach
Drones are becoming more common at Edisto, said Brouthers. According to him, drones must be registered with the FAA before it can be used. “The proper drone etiquette is not to harass people, and we will obviously be enforcing voyeurism laws,” he said.
There are no specific ordinances in the Town of Edisto Beach against having a drone.
Plastic ban
The town has an anti-plastic ordinance, which says no plastics can be used on the town’s properties or in any parks. The plastic ban officially when into effect in January of 2020.
The new ordinance violation comes with fines of up to $1,078.
Golf cart rules
Golf carts can only be driven in South Carolina by a licensed driver, who is at least 16 years old. You also cannot drive golf carts along Palmetto Boulevard or at night. Additionally, you are required to have a permit by both the Town of Edisto Beach and the State of South Carolina to drive a golf cart.
“Most people are given fines for parking their golf carts where they shouldn’t, for not having a proper town permit and for driving along Palmetto Boulevard,” said Brouthers. “It is the beach, but the rules still apply. It’s a safety issue.”
Prohibited items on the beach
According to information provided by the Town of Edisto Beach, the following are prohibited on the beachfront at Edisto Beach: Glass bottles of any kind; bon fires; motorized vehicles; littering; parking on sand dunes; leaving holes on beach; and dogs that are unleashed.
Dogs must remain on a leash May 1st through Oct. 31st.
