To the parents of teenagers visiting Panama City Beach for spring break, are any of these children yours?
I need to make something perfectly clear. It is imperative that you contact your children immediately and inform them that unless they start treating our community with the respect they would their own homes, we will be compelled to find them a temporary home in our detention facility. If you have rented a condo in your name for them and left them unsupervised while staying elsewhere, be aware that you could be held responsible for any damages they cause.
Should you harbor any doubts about your teenager’s capacity to make responsible decisions while in our city, it may be time to retrieve them.
We in Panama City Beach hold mutual respect in high regard, a standard that, regretfully, has not been met by some visiting teenagers. If your teenager arrived with the misconception that this is an opportunity for unrestrained behavior and that leniency will be extended, they are mistaken, and allowing them to come unsupervised was a misjudgment.
Special attention must be given to those teenagers frequenting the beach area adjacent to Pineapple Willy’s restaurant. It is crucial they understand that the boardwalk beach access is exclusively for Laketown Wharf residents and guests. Unauthorized use of this access point will be considered trespassing. This beach has been a particular point of contention, and we will ensure a significant police presence in the area for the rest of the week. Consequently, the likelihood of unruly teenagers being arrested in this vicinity is considerably increased.
Be advised that an arrest can have long-lasting repercussions, potentially jeopardizing scholarships they’ve worked hard for, military enlistments they’ve aspired to, or any post-high school ambitions. The excuses they might offer to our officers will have little impact, especially after a month of managing spring break activities.
We appreciate your understanding and cooperation. It’s in your hands to guide your teenagers—ensure they leave our city with good memories, not a criminal record.
