By Susannah Bryan

South Florida Sun Sentinel

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. — Surfers who dare to catch waves off Hallandale Beach are breaking a town law that bans the sport.

But the ban itself may be illegal, experts say.

A landmark ruling handed down 48 years ago prohibits cities from outlawing surfing.

“That could be taken to court,” said Tom Warnke, executive director of the Florida Surfing Museum in West Palm Beach. “The (Florida) Supreme Court ruled you could regulate it, but you can’t ban it.”

Hallandale’s ban has been on the books for at least a decade.

Back in 1964, the town of Palm Beach banned surfing. Soon Riviera Beach and Palm Beach Shores outlawed the sport too. The Florida Supreme Court struck down those bans in 1970, citing them as arbitrary and unreasonable.

City Attorney Jennifer Merino, who’s been with the city since February 2017, says Hallandale’s long-standing ban needs to be changed. Merino says she’s working on a revised law that could be voted on by the commission as soon as next month.

Bob Jarvis, a law professor at Nova Southeastern University, says the legal precedent regarding a ban on surfing is clear.

“A city can ban surfing in an area where it might be dangerous because of rocks or ships coming out or where they might be colliding with swimmers,” Jarvis said. “But you can’t do a blanket ban.”

Jarvis said Hallandale is likely not the only city to run afoul of a landmark case.

“This happens all the time,” he said. “Think of how many ordinances a town has. And a lot of ordinances are on the books and never get enforced.”

Hallandale Beach has not cited anyone for violating its ban, city officials say. And if the lifeguard gives them a verbal warning, most people comply.

In Hallandale, surfing isn’t the only forbidden sport.

Scuba diving, spear fishing and skim boarding are also prohibited.