Citrus County special master fines four boaters for unpaid launch fees

Christian Waugh, Citrus County special master, assessed first-time fines of $50 plus $24.91 in administrative costs against four individuals after surveillance cameras recorded them launching watercraft from county-owned ramps, the hearing record shows.

The finding came at a public hearing convened at 1 p.m. in Citrus County to adjudicate notices of violation for unpaid launch fees. The county presented surveillance images and vendor records from Premium Parking; the special master admitted exhibits identified as A, D, E, F, G and H and concluded the evidence proved the violations.

Waugh said, "I find that the evidence presented is sufficient to determine that a violation occurred," as he announced each assessment. Premium Parking representative Emily Eaton, market president for the Orlando region (temporarily overseeing Tampa), testified that she prepared the vendor records submitted as exhibits. "I created that document," Eaton said.

Case details recorded in the hearing record show: Charles Patrick Roberts was recorded launching a watercraft at McRays of Homosassa on June 15, 2025, in a vehicle with Florida tag RGLG67; Austin Wayne Reeves was recorded launching at the Hernando Beach ramp on June 14, 2025, in a vehicle with Florida tag 3319UI; Jordan Mustafa Chaffee was recorded launching at McRays of Homosassa on June 7, 2025, in a vehicle with Florida tag CN42ME; and Terry Ernest Hodgdon was recorded launching at McRays of Homosassa on May 17, 2025, in a vehicle with Florida tag RZCH43. For each, the record shows a certified notice of violation was mailed and the respondent had not paid the launch fee or contacted the county before the hearing.

Each case was described in the record as a first-time violation within a six-month period; Waugh assessed the $50 fine plus $24.91 administrative cost in each instance. Exhibits F, G and H were described as Premium Parking’s contemporaneous records, certified-mail proofs and camera images; staff explained Exhibit A shows the county’s launch-fee signage that is posted at the ramps.

Manny Coinberry, sports and events coordinator for Citrus County Parks and Recreation (standing in for Director Terry Moore), said the county’s enforcement program appears to be meeting expectations. "At this point, I believe it is. We are getting — honestly, the cases start a lot larger, the number of cases, and it shrinks as they pay," Coinberry said during closing remarks.

No respondents appeared at the hearing to contest the violations, and the record notes the notices directed respondents to pay the fee or appear for a hearing scheduled for Sept. 17, 2025. The special master adjourned the hearing at 1:15 p.m.