No, Anna Maria Island beaches aren't going private in July

MANATEE – Bradenton's beaches aren't going private.

Because of efforts to control erosion, parts of Anna Maria Island that have been renourished aren't affected by a new state law.

Yet confusion has muddled the meaning of "Possession of Real Property," the new law that dictates how governments can establish customary use. In this case, if "an activity has continued for a long time without interruption," such as beach bums parking their chairs on dry sand, then there is legal standing for such an activity to continue, according to a memo from the Florida Shore and Beach Preservation Association.

The law, which goes into effect July 1, "prohibits a governmental entity from adopting or keeping in effect an ordinance or rule establishing customary use of privately owned dry sand areas," the memo reads.