The Dunedin City Commission voted unanimously 5-0 on September 3, 2026 to ban motorized watercraft launches on the south side of the Dunedin Causeway in Dunedin, Florida. ^[1] According to a press release from the Florida Division of Emergency Management, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis declared September as Florida Preparedness Month. ^[2] Dunedin officials cited public safety as the main driver for the ban, following two jet ski deaths since 2020 and 80 reported jet ski incidents between January 1 and April 30, 2026. ^[3] The new Dunedin ordinance prohibits motorized watercraft from launching and retrieving along the south side of the causeway beach. ^[4] The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office will enforce the ban, issuing a warning for a first interaction, then a class 5 citation costing $93 uncontested or $138 if contested, and the city can issue $500 municipal citations for repeat offenders and pursue trespassing charges banning individuals from the causeway for up to a year; boaters must now use public or private ramps located 2 to 12 miles away. ^[5] September is the climatological peak of hurricane season, and in the recent past, storms Ian, Helene, and Milton have impacted Florida during or after that month. ^[6] The Florida Division of Emergency Management reminds residents to check whether they live in an evacuation zone by consulting its 'Know Your Zone' website. ^[7]