Residents press council on jet-ski dangers, speeding and traffic calming; police, staff outline enforcement and training options

Residents at the Feb. 11 Town of Lake Clarke Shores council meeting urged the town to act after repeated incidents involving jet‑skis on canals and speeding on neighborhood streets.

Jim Bover, a resident of Beta Circle, told the council “the jet ski now is out of control,” and said he saw dozens of craft “going by at 60 miles an hour” including at night. Maurice Lucker, who lives on Westlake, described near misses while walking his dog and said a radar speed sign in front of his house “just tells them how fast they’re going. It does not slow them down.”

Why it matters: Residents said dangerous watercraft speeds and neighborhood speeding create a public‑safety risk for boaters, swimmers and pedestrians. Council and staff described several near‑term and longer‑term responses to improve enforcement and slow traffic.

Staff and police responses: - Marine enforcement training: Town staff said they have reached out to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office for a marine‑patrol certification and are awaiting course dates; staff said interested town officers will attend when the sheriff’s office schedules classes. Mayor Gregory Freebould and council members asked staff to explore other training providers and mutual‑aid options if local scheduling is delayed. - Use of patrols and data: The police chief reported enforcement activity on residential streets and said officers issued warnings and citations; staff noted the town’s speed database can be used to analyze percentage compliance and target enforcement. The chief said recent checks showed a large share of drivers comply with limits, though residents dispute that perception. - Physical traffic calming: Residents asked about speed humps and other measures. Staff said the town has an approved traffic‑calming process and a staff committee will analyze petitions; the council asked staff to start the process for areas where residents requested action and to return with recommendations. - Cameras and evidence gathering: Residents asked whether cameras could be used to capture license plates for enforcement; staff said legal and technical details require consultation with the town attorney before deploying automated ticketing.

Quotes from the meeting capture urgency: "Somebody's gonna get hurt back there. It’s not a matter of if, it's a matter of when," said Jim Bover. Maurice Lucker said he had to “jump into the grass or got hit” while walking his dog.

Next steps: Staff will track sheriff’s office marine‑training availability, continue targeted enforcement using radar and the speed database, begin the traffic‑calming petition process where residents request it, and return to council with options and timelines. Council members also discussed asking the state or neighboring agencies for temporary patrol assistance if local classes are delayed.

Ending: The meeting closed with council direction to pursue training options and to evaluate traffic calming and enforcement steps; no formal vote was recorded on enforcement policy or infrastructure at this meeting.