On Tuesday evening, around 8:45 p.m., Bill and I drove outthe North Jetty Road at Cape D State Park to take a quick break from our tiring summerat the bed and breakfast. Our friend Sam drove in her truck and we had our own vehicle. Sam had told us about the amazing pelican feeding frenzy with the school of anchoviesat Waikiki Beach. We were hoping to see the spectacle. Wedrove in and parked at the parking lot looking across Waikiki Beach towards Cape D lighthouse, one of our favorite views. We stayed in the vehicles for 10 minutes waiting for a repeat of the spectacle. There was no feeding frenzy, which was slightly disappointing, but we had just a refreshing few minutes of peace.

We were driving out of the North Jetty Road, heading back to town. We made it about 50 yards when we saw flashing lights go on behind us. We pulled over. A park ranger approached our vehicle and demanded to see our park permit. We didn’t have one. We said we didn’t think we needed one for a 10 minute visit inside our vehicle at 9 p.m. on a Tuesday night. We explained that we were residents just taking a quick break in our “backyard.”

After all, there are limited places residents can retreat to for great vistas and peace thatare notState Park land. In fact, asmembers of Concerned Coastal Citizens, we have assisted State Parks in procuring more of this gorgeous property “in our backyard” with beautiful vistas, in particular, the Christensen property, following the land swap fiasco a few years ago.

The park ranger lecturing us was not very congenial. We said it was a very quick visit, we had needed a quick10-minute break and hadstayed in our vehicles. Condescendingly, she explained why there are park permits and if we knew anything about state parks that we would know why we needed a permit. It is not as though we had picnicked at the park, or taken out a blanket and hung out on the beach, or camped. We had sat in our vehicle for 10 minutes! We should have had a permit, but just didn’t think it was necessary for this particular visit.

After a “conversation” with the park ranger, we were told that we were being given a warning, which she tore off herpad and handed to us,and that we must go back to park headquarters and pay for a park permit prior to leaving the park. She also said to tell our friend in the green pick-up which pulled out ahead of us that she better have a permit also. C’mon, was that necessary? Sam did have a permit as she uses the park more than we do and isn’t a resident. We seldom get to goto Cape D. The interaction left us feeling like minor criminals. The rangercould have said that she was giving us a warning and that we must in the future obtain a park permit for however brief our visit is. Then shecould have said, “have a pleasant evening.”

Ipropose that the State Parksand Recreation Commission evaluatea policy change allowing residents living within “X” miles of State Parks to have some limited access to our “living room.” Eating a quick lunch at the park or a brief evening visitcould be allowed. Camping, hiking andvisiting the Interpretive Center and the lighthouses constitutes a longer stay and park permits are appropriate.

I propose that Parks staff customer service training include how to establish positive relationships with fellow residents so that boththe ranger and the resident have a good experience with each other. It’s very simple. We will now obtain a permit for our few visits per year, however brief.

Susie Goldsmith

Long Beach