Town Creates 'Wall Of Shame' To Help Find Abandoned Boat Owners

TOWN OF BABYLON, NY - The Town of Babylon recently started a "wall of shame" to help find boaters who abandon their boats in local waterways.

Officials have begun taking photos of the vessels left abandoned in town waterways and posting them to the town website to help identify the owner.

"Every year, unwanted boats are improperly disposed of in Babylon's waterways," the town website reads. "These boats are often in disrepair and pose serious risks to the environment, are an unwanted eyesore for residents and can even be a safety hazard to other boats."

In addition to the photo, the "wall of shame" includes the location the boat was found, the date it was discovered and the status of whether the owner has been identified.

As of Wednesday, there are three abandoned boats on the "wall of shame" including one discovered in Lindenhurst, one in Tanner Park and one on Indian Island.

Residents who recognize any of the boats or want to report a different one can call (631) 422-7600.

These boats are typically abandoned after owners realize they can't keep up with the cost of upkeep and choose to leave it instead of paying costly disposal fees, Town of Babylon head of public safety Pat Farrell told Newsday.

While most have a hull identification number, or HIN, that information can be removed from the boat making it difficult to identify, according to Newsday.

Last year a total of 15 abandoned boats were discovered dumped within the Town of Babylon.

This new method will hopefully keep that number from rising.

What do you think?