New limits on beach driving will take effect along the Cape Hatteras National Seashore starting Feb. 15, and off-road drivers will be required to buy permits that could add $50 to the cost of an Outer Banks weekend.
The rules, announced Friday by the National Park Service, were drafted to protect endangered turtles and rare shorebirds that build their nests on the beach. The agency promised to improve controls on beach driving when it settled a 2007 lawsuit filed by three environmental organizations.
Fishing is the most popular purpose for taking off-road vehicles onto the sand, a park service spokeswoman said. Other beach drivers are out there to watch birds or just get away from the crowds.
Fees have not been announced but are expected to be set between $90 and $150 for a one-year beach driving permit, and between $30 and $50 for a seven-day permit. Separate permits will be issued for each vehicle, and permit holders will be required to watch an instructional video. ...
Off-road vehicles will be allowed year-round on 28 miles of the Hatteras seashore, and from mid-September to mid-March on 13 miles, the Southern Environmental Law Center said; the remaining 26 miles will be off limits to vehicles.
User fees can be used to effectively regulate use and raise revenue. Only those users who are not willing or able to pay a relatively small fee are excluded. Raising the fee during environmentally sensitive periods should be a more efficient policy that full beach closure.
