In recent years, FWC has been increasing efforts to reduce the number of derelict vessels on Florida's waterways. These vessels are environmental hazards and navigational hazards. When hurricanes strike, they often end up in protected sanctuaries. Someone's backyard or potentially submerged along a shoreline. If the boat's owner or responsible party is not held accountable, the cleanup cost becomes a burden on taxpayers with each vessel costing thousands of dollars in recovery and disposal. Officers were on patrol when they made contact with the boat's occupant, later identified as 55year-old Ernesto. >> Okay, so I'll make it quick. Um, I'm concerned that she that officer over there was telling me you don't have any steerage or propulsion on this boat. >> You can't steer or propel. Your engine doesn't work and your steering doesn't work. I'm going to back up one. >> Okay. Is this your boat? >> No. No. I'm just taking care of for a friend of mine. I got told by all of this um over there. I got hired to do electrical work on this job on this boat. >> Okay. >> And the guy owe me money. So, I've been trying to get a rental help. So, either give me my money or get the stuff that I need over here. But in the meantime, when the weather was bad, I come over and make sure don't go in the water. Like the other day, this boat was actually set up over here. Yeah, but that rope broke. So, I got it up in this one. Like I say, I don't want it to go be mangros and go on the water or go on the water anyway. But this boat don't get no water, you know, unless it rains. >> Yeah. >> But it's a shame because it's a nice boat. >> It is open. But it's a nice one >> and it's got a clever name. >> I know. I realized that name not too long ago to be honest. I'm looking at the ready. I'm like, >> it's a puzzle. >> It took me a while. >> I like it. >> Yeah, me too. Uh, so do you do you stay on this boat >> when the weather's bad? Yes. I've come over like I've been here now for a couple days and if you look I got stuff in here because of that, you know. >> But so then why why doesn't the owner fix it? >> I'm trying to get a hold of him to be honest. I'm been trying really hard. Like I said, he owed me money too. >> Are you guys friends? >> Uh, yeah. Yeah. >> Okay. doesn't seem like a good friend for quite a while. He hired me to do a job, but he disappeared me. So, I don't know if he's in Miami or he's in jail or >> So then why >> if he die? I don't know anything about >> Why do you care about his boat? >> Okay. It's a beautiful boat, >> but it's not yours. >> Yeah, I know. I know. I know. >> You don't have a She She was saying you don't have a driver's license. >> No, my driver not ago, but I'm in the process of getting it now, you know. >> So, you've had one in Florida? I went CTO license. That's what I had. >> Okay. Here, no ticket, no nothing. No, I just had an accident 40 years. I got an accident when I was 40 years driving. >> Damn. >> So, my license been good always. But no, I don't got no points on it or anything like that, which is good. >> Yeah. Yeah. I'm not worried about that. I just not I just want to know who you are. >> Yeah. >> Where do you live? >> A friend of mine in >> So, you kind of like you kind of bounce around between the boat and your friend's house. the weather's bad, then I come over here, stay here for a couple days, whatever the weather is. And then when it's nice again, I leave again, you know. >> So, I keep an eye on it. >> But you stay on this boat when the weather's bad, to take care of the boat. >> Take care of it. Yeah. Because I don't want to go on the water, like I say. And my dad used to love the boat. >> It seems like you're a good friend, but your friend's not a good friend. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Interesting. >> What is your first name? Ernest, E R N E F O. >> Last name. Do you have anything on you that's got your name? >> The paper that I show him from court. Yeah. >> Okay, that'll work. >> Court paperwork. I like it. You go and do a little work, make some money, pay a ticket. >> Can I Can I get on the boat? Come here. So, your your steering when you turn that wheel, it doesn't turn the rudder. >> I'm not sure. >> Can you turn that wheel? >> I can turn the wheel, but I don't know if it does anything. >> You know what I mean? I don't know if it does everything. >> Yeah, that doesn't do anything. >> It doesn't look like it. >> What about the one up top? >> I don't know. I haven't actually tried it out yet to be honest. >> All right, you here. I'll go out there. >> Nope. Nothing. >> I see you got the other from Miami, too. That's why I say I'm not sure if he's in Miami, if the guy is dead or if he's arrested. I just have got a hold of him in a while. Okay. >> And I need to get back. You owe me money. >> Can I see that? Yes, sir. Thanks. Is this your phone number down here? 743. >> No. No. My number is 896. >> Is that Eduardo's number? Do you Do you have this? >> Probably. >> Okay. Okay. Hold on. Let me get your number. >> But I don't think that's the number I got. >> Okay. Hold on. Hold on. Hold on. >> Also told me that. Yeah. >> Actually, it was a lady. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> She's the one that sold me. Yeah. >> Did she site you for that? No, she gave me the warning. >> A warning? >> Yeah, the paper that I gave you. >> She's nice. >> This is not my boat. That's right. >> Yeah, but you're on it. >> I know. She told me, you know, I am responsible. I'm like, >> you're responsible. >> I didn't know that. >> No, they did. So, they they did write a violation for no valid registration. >> Oh, yeah. On the owner. Yeah. No registration on the >> Yeah, >> felony with a gun. What' you do with a gun, man? It wasn't It was actually a stunt gun and I didn't know I was allowed to have one. >> Oh, they >> What's uh what's your phone number? >> Um 305. >> Okay. I'm going to print out There's I'm not going to lie to you. It's going to be a lot of paper, but I'm going to explain it to you so you understand it. All right. >> Okay. >> In the most Oh. In the most basic terms, this boat is defined as derelik. >> That's what sir >> because it has no means of propulsion or steerage. So it's substantially dismantled on the waters which makes it derelict. Okay. So I'm going to be giving you a citation for it because you're the responsible party of the boat. The registered owner is also responsible. Well, I'm going to try and locate him and talk to him and say, "Hey, man. You're kind of you're kind you're kind of messing up your buddy, you because you're you're staying on the boat. You're maintaining it. You're showing responsibility for the boat, >> but it's also his responsibility because he's the owner of it. >> You own it." >> Right. So, both of you are responsible for it. >> Yeah. I don't know about >> your actions make you responsible. So, the citation, the point of the citation, it's criminal, but the point of the citation is to give you the opportunity to bring the boat into compliance. Fix the steering and the engine before your court date and the charges will be dropped. Okay? But this isn't this is in lie of taking you to jail now because it's a first-degree misdemeanor. Okay? This is what I do with a lot of people that show me that they are that they can they can fix the boat. You just said you're a mechanic, so you can you can fix it. >> I'm supposed to be the one doing that to work on this. Okay. >> Okay. >> So, this is kind of going to push you, right? So, you got 30 days until your court date. At least 30 days until your court date. So, you got plenty of time to fix it or show me that you're fixing it so I can let the court know, hey, he's he's make he's taking some steps to fix the boat. All right. But I I still got to print all this stuff out and and I'll explain it to you a little bit a little bit more, but just to kind of let you know what's going on. Good. >> I don't want it, you know, let's say in a few days. >> Well, then I'm going to do something that is not. >> So, you would if you just walked away and you said, "Nope, not my problem anymore." You would have to go to court and let them know, hey, I'm responsible. I'm the responsible party. I'm not the registered owner of the boat. Oh, I got to thank my dear. >> So, the judge will make a decision on that. I'm only documenting what's here. You're showing responsibility for the boat. The the statute reads responsible party and or registered owner. >> So, I'm going to try and get him, too. I'm trying to I'm going to try and talk to him. But >> there we go. Now, what I see is like >> if you just walk away, you you just go to court. Don't don't try and fix it and just explain your story. I I cannot really without even the heat of the ball, you know, like fixing my master because I don't see a way of me fixing this and I cannot even get a hold of the guy. I mean, really, what you guys are doing is getting me in trouble. >> Well, I don't want >> I've been trying to be clean forever, you know. >> I don't I don't want to I I don't want you to say you can't fix it because then that means there's no point in giving you the citation, right? Well, if it's like you say, I don't even have the key or the boat and but if I cannot fix it, I don't have the money. So, if I cannot fix it, how I mean really now I'm in a situation that I'm like, hey, >> you know, >> well, by being the caretaker, by by telling us how you come out here all the time, you put yourself as that responsible part of >> Yeah. No, I understand. Yeah, I understand that part. Yes, I agree. But uh tell me, you know, like I got to go to Brexit and go to court. Me personally, I don't without getting into trouble with him, I don't know if uh what I could do here. All I'm doing is making sure don't go underwater or go into the mangroves or anything like that, you know. >> Yeah, you're being you're being responsible for the boat. >> And like I told my dogs, I only come here in the bad weather, you know, >> but the weather come over. >> But I want I want you to hear me very clearly. Okay. Are you able it the purpose of the citation is to give you the opportunity to bring the boat into compliance. >> Right. >> The alternative the other option is to arrest you and take you to jail. >> Do you have the means to fix the boat if I could get a hold of the guy? Probably. >> Yeah. Like can you get a hold of him? I've been trying the last few days. have been trying to really hard but like I told the officer the other officer I don't know if it's Miami if it's because I haven't been able to reach them at all in the last few days >> they have to reach him because of the bad weather you know >> all so come and take care of the boat >> when's yeah when's the last time you talked to him >> years >> about three weeks ago probably >> three weeks I have not been able to get a whole motor. >> So, do you not have a means of fixing the boat? >> Me personally, like I say, I'm actually really want to take my job for that, you know, job, but I don't see why. So, I guess going to get in trouble something. I've been trying to stay away forever, you know. I know but if I get the purpose of the citation is for you to fix the boat and if you can't fix the boat >> there's no point in writing the citation >> about this about you write the citation and worst case I go to court like you say and I told Josh hey listen I'm stepping out of this you know it's the worst case I could do hey I don't want a part of it because if this thing is going to get me in trouble no I don't want a part of it I've been trying to stay away from trouble for a long you But I I could deal with that important not like right now right now or no today. Like today there's nothing I can do today. No really definitely not not anything I can take. I know about tomorrow you know the tomorrow. Okay. When I go to court, I don't want to park it. You know what I mean? >> Yeah. >> The the paperwork requires a picture of the boat. So, I'm going to take a quick picture. Really bad angle. What I mean >> you're you're taking >> you're you're taking care of the boat for your friend and you can't you can't even get a hold of your friend though. >> No. >> So what's like you said you don't even have the key to the boat to turn it on if you fixed it. How would you and all the guy flavor the water? >> Yeah, that's right. >> Okay. So, look. This is the best way I can describe derelic boats. Huh? >> Oh, no. No. It's easier cuz it's right here. This packet is what's called a notification of rights. It's basically letting you know the boat is in this condition. I wrote in here why it's derelict. It gives you the location, the vessel information, your case number, your information, and my information. And then the following pages is the explanation of your rights. And if you want to petition or argue the fact that it's derelict, you would fill out these last couple of pages. >> See how they're filling the blanks? You would fill that out and send it to Tallahassee. Okay? You got to do that within 21 days. This is the civil side. It's completely different than the criminal offense. This is if the boat stays in this condition, it'll be removed and destroyed and you can be held responsible for the cost of that. >> Okay. >> I got to move on with it. >> The only the only way to bring this boat into compliance is either fixing the steering and the propulsion, both of those, or taking it off the water. But you can't do that if you don't even have the keys to the boat, >> right? >> And you can't even get a hold of the owner of the boat, which is your friend. >> All right, I'm going to hop on board, put this sticker on. So that that sticker's got to stay on there. Okay, no problem. As long as the boat is derely, it's got to stay on there. Okay. So, like I said earlier, there's no point in giving you that citation. So, we're going to take you down to Key West. We're taking you to the jail down there. Okay. >> Yeah. >> Because it's a first-degree misdemeanor. We're you're not in you're not you don't have the capability of bringing it into compliance. So, there's no point in giving you that citation. >> Hey, buddy. >> You've been trying to get a hold of your friend for three weeks and you haven't been able to get a hold of him. days. >> The only phone number you have for him is disconnected. How are you going to be able how you can't even turn the engines on? >> A bunch of people here I could get in touch with that and know guys that maybe they could get it for me, you know. >> No, that's not that's not that's not going to happen. So, we're going to we're going to take you down to Key West. >> You're going to have your first appearance probably tomorrow. It's Tuesday. It's Wednesday. So, you'll probably get the first appearance arignment on Thursday or Friday. and they'll let you know what your bond is, if you have a bond, and it'll just go from there. Okay. Normally, I give that citation because the owner of the boat, the person living on the boat has a means to fix it. You have 30 days and we we live in the boat. Like I said, I come over when the weather take care of it. You don't go nowhere, you know. >> Yeah. You stay you stay on you live on the boat temporarily. >> Temporarily. Yeah. I got places there. >> Yeah. >> Nobody give me any chance. Do you have anything on you that can't go to jail? Do you have like a lighter? >> Cigarettes. >> Cigarette. Yeah. >> Okay. That isn't allowed at the jail. >> So, if you want to leave it somewhere secure, your medication, if you have that inhaler and you need it, that can be allowed in there. >> Yeah. I definitely have to have a >> Okay. We'll we'll put a life we're going to put a life jacket on you. Then we're going to put you on this side. Then we'll put you on cuffs and sit you in the front. Okay. Can I call my bounce man on the way there to see what uh you see? >> You can call him when you get there. On the way there, you're not going to be able to have your phone on you. >> Man, I was expecting this. >> Here we go. >> Oh, yeah. >> What? I actually my job is I'm going >> it's being the responsible party of a derelic vessel. >> All right, we're going to sit you up front. Okay, >> put the hang up in the front. >> Yeah, this when we get to the truck, I'll put them up front for you. Okay. But on the boat, they stay that way. Yeah, I know, man. That's that's why the the statute reads responsible party or registered owner because a lot of times people live on boats that they don't put the boat in their name, >> right? >> So, I don't want to my name too much to be honest. >> But you I mean you you got to understand that you're you're responsible for the condition of that boat cuz you reside on it. Okay. So, I'm going to help you up there. Then I will make sure you don't got anything else on you and I'll put you the cuffs in the front. Okay. >> All right. Thank you. Pretty good. There we go. Okay. Over here. Take the life jacket off. >> But yeah, actually very necessary for me. >> Yeah. As Ernesto was the responsible party for a boat that did not have steerage or a propulsion system, he was charged with leaving a derelict vessel upon state waters. He pled not guilty and demanded a jury trial. However, he failed to appear and a warrant was later issued for his arrest. If you like this video and want to see more like it, subscribe to Arrest Cam. As always, thanks for watching.