Inside the island fortress of America's mega-billionaires

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12. Not quite - in the middle of it, it's clear they harrass boats that come close

With the new security system, the Indian Creek police appear to have turbocharged their enforcement of regulations in the surrounding waters. In 2019, the department issued 211 traffic and marine citations. In 2022, the first year the radar system was fully operational, the number of citations soared to 1,600.

"Every time I go past Indian Creek, I run into a marine patrol guy," Ross says. He knows of plenty of boaters who have been ticketed, generally for creating a wake too close to the shore. Passing by the island earlier this year, Ross triggered the attention of an Indian Creek Police patrol. The officer hit him with a $140 ticket for not having the correct safety equipment on board. The Indian Creek police department did not respond to my inquiries.

Those are, basically, bullshit fines, meant to discourage people using public waters. They have a private security set-up that has been given "police" status so that it can fine people doing normal stuff.