2 face felony expenses over balloon air pollution in Biscayne Bay; could face time in prison

MIAMI – A 26-year-old woman and a 29-year-old man are going through criminal prices over the disposal of balloons into Biscayne Bay after these had been used to brighten a yacht throughout a wedding proposal.

A witness shared a video on Instagram and environmentalists had been outraged. Marine animals usually mistake the nonbiodegradable deflated balloons for jellyfish. Turtles eat it. Seabirds feed it to their younger.

Miami-Dade law enforcement officials also issued civil citations with more than $23,000 in fines for the illegal dumping on the Bayshore Touchdown Marina in Coconut Grove. This has been a more painful learning experience for Martina Gaspoz and David Torres-Bocanegra who were each working.

Officers arrested Gaspoz on Friday and Torres-Bocanegra on Wednesday. They are dealing with charges of willful disregard for the surroundings, a third-degree felony punishable with a high quality of as much as $50,000 or imprisonment for 5 years, or each. Her bond was $5,000.

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Officers arrested Torres-Bocanegra for reckless disregard for the environment, a second-degree misdemeanor punishable with a tremendous of as much as $10,000 or 60 days in jail, or both. His bond was $500. Detective Angel Rodriguez later clarified there was a mistake with the cost.

Detectives didn't consider the couple who bought engaged on Tuesday to be the culprits. Instead, officers issued citations to the two companies — the occasion planner and the yacht constitution — that the longer term groom employed.

Additionally, not everybody who obtained a $2,510 citation actually touched the balloons or was present for the celebration.

Dessideria D’Caro De Capriles, of Doral, is the proprietor of the constitution yacht. Gabriela Castillo was the occasion coordinator. Francisco Feo was the person in charge of the constitution firm. Officers also cited Tulio Capriles, Iulia Tyshchenko, Viacheslav Diadiura, and Efrain Hernandez.

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Environmental advocates want Miami-Dade officers to do extra.

The Florida Ocean CleanUp Society, a nonprofit organization, arrange a Change.org petition asking Miami-Dade’s Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, the chief bay officer, and commissioners to pilot a brand new ordinance banning balloons and confetti in coastal waters.

“Banning balloons and confetti isn’t going to solve the pollution problem. Nevertheless, we believe it’s essential and necessary to spark a cultural shift,” the petitioner wrote adding, “We beg the Miami-Dade county to pass legislation to protect our ecosystem and enhance environmental consciousness among boaters and the charter industry.”

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For extra tales about defending Biscayne Bay, visit the Don’t Trash Our Treasure web page. Local 10 Information Environmental Advocate Louis Aguirre leads the team.

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