Here is an actual occurrence that happened at Myrtle Point Park. You know that little beach that people walk to and boats go? That one.
Well one day we stop by the beach by boat and anchor in the water. Boy is at the waters edge catching minnows with a really tiny hook and a bit of bait. Not hooking them, but pulling them out when they bit to the beach to put in a bucket. Kid is having a blast, he's 9. Well, up walks the afore mentioned "properly attired power tripper representing P&R" and says, "You can't be in the park without paying $5.00." I tell her I didn't come in through the gate but by boat, pointing at it not 20 feet out off the beach. "It doesn't matter" she says, "you must pay $5.00 or you will be forced to leave." My son then says, "Daddy, do we have to leave?" Well, the short of it is I shut her down and took the wind out of her sails by explaining that I wasn't in the county park of Myrtle Point, I was on a beach owned by the State of Maryland. I further explained that the county R&P does not own the land below the high tide mark. What R&P has is riparian rights to control assess to the beach, hence the $5.00. But the State “It is well established that the title to land under navigable water is in the State of Maryland, subject to the paramount right of the United States to protect navigation in the navigable waters." I parsed a lot of this to her. She would not have logical facts stop her, "I'll call the police if you don't pay and continue to stay here" she says. Do what you have to do I tell her and get my boy back to what he was doing.
She left, never heard from her again and no law man showed up. Also think about it, it wasn't like she was carrying a R&P receipt book. She could have been pocketing the money. So the story here is... Challenge, challenge, challenge. Fight for the little things because they can become the big things. Acquiescence, and blind compliance to perceived authority, has made a mess of things in this country. Grow a pair and stand your ground. Take nothing at face value. But do it in a polite manner.
Edit: Also, that day there were many other beach goers and maybe about six other boats.