No law specifically prohibits riding a manatee — also known as a sea cow — but the state’s Manatee Sanctuary Act does deem it unlawful for “any person at any time, by any means, or in any manner intentionally or negligently to annoy, molest, harass, or disturb or attempt to molest, harass, or disturb” the endangered animals. Back when Gutierrez turned herself in, NewsFeed went ahead and assumed that riding one would fall somewhere into the annoy/disturb category, automatically making her actions a second-degree misdemeanor. And indeed, that appeared to be the case when she was taken into custody on Saturday at the Sears department store where she works.
The maximum penalty for this type of infraction is a $500 fine and up to six months in jail; Gutierrez was released on $1,500 bail, the Associated Press reports. And to those who were concerned: the manatee was not hurt in the humiliating incident — at least, not physically.
Sears really needs to do better background checks on their employees!
Sears hires manatee-molesters?
ReplyDeleteThe bastards!
So. . . she was released on a $1500 bond for a second-degree misdemeanor worth at most $500? They ought to at least make her pay for the manatee's psychotherapy. . .
So many places my mind wants to take me with this. . . And darn few of 'em would be appreciated by anyone with an innocent mind. . .
Craig - well, I was going to title it, 'Hey Lady! Pick on Someone Your Own Size!' But I thought that was sort of mean.
ReplyDeleteSo what's the attraction of riding a manatee anyway? They spend half the day sleeping, and even when they're awake their normal swimming speed is 3 to 5 mph. Not exactly the experience of a lifetime.
ReplyDeleteNick - Good point! Maybe it's just to say you've done it? Not on my bucket list!
ReplyDeleteya know, up until this i would have thought the phrase "riding the manatee" was a euphemism for something....i'm not sure what exactly but i sure wouldn't have taken it literally.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure she won't be doing this again! I can't imagine her seeing any jail time for this infraction; I do admire her for turning herself in though!
ReplyDeletebetty
Lime - it would make a great parody song!
ReplyDeleteBetty - she denied knowing that it was against the law. But who in their right mind thinks its a good idea to ride an animal in the wild?
Hi Bijoux,
ReplyDeleteO-M-G...
I am almost speechless.
I couldn't do that one-never!
i honestly hope that the manatee will survive that.
People need to quit being such d-bags and leave the poor, helpless animals alone. Get a jetski.
ReplyDeleteInteresting. I can actually see not being aware that it was against the law. I sure didn't know that. I don't think it would ever occur to me to try to ride one, but maybe she's seen all those "swimming with dolphins" things, and just wanted to try? I can't see that this is a jail-worthy event when there are so many people out there doing genuinely malicious things.
ReplyDeleteBarb- it was shocking to the bystanders as well as the manatee.
ReplyDeleteRhonda- and I assume a jet ski smells better, too.
Agent - I think I read that manatees are endangered, therefore the law about approaching them in any way. I just can't imagine thinking its okay to interact with a wild animal. Dolphins at Sea World are in a controlled environment, but I would be cautious with even that.
ya know, getting your hands on any wild thing is just a mistake .... mostly.
ReplyDeleteexcept for squirrels. they ate all my sweet corn, they can be harassed and molested ....
X - but they're so cute! I'm going to miss the ones at our old place as they had some personality. The ones here just run away when they see someone.
ReplyDeleteOMG...as Barb shared, I'm TOTALLY speechless?!?!?!
ReplyDeleteWhen I lived in Florida, they had places where you could interact with manatee's, such as petting and feeding them. But not RIDING them.
Ron- so glad that you made it home safely. Isn't this a crazy story? Who would treat an animal like an amusement park ride?
ReplyDeleteHehe! I heard about this but I didn't know she turned herself in.
ReplyDeleteWho does that? What makes you think you should try and ride a wild animal? Just bizarre.
It is bizarre and makes me think of little kids who try to ride big dogs! Lol
ReplyDeletecute? them squirrels stole corn outta the mouths of my (adult) babies! that is not right i tell ya.
ReplyDeleteMe, too. People forget that wild animals are just that - wild. I keep my distance and admire from afar.
ReplyDelete