| Beach Access Issues |
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August 29, 2008
Park Service announces plans for night beach driving permit
 Locals and visitors who want to drive on the beaches of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore at night between Sept. 16 and Nov. 15 can now apply for a night beach driving permit. The permit will be required for off-road vehicle use on all seashore ocean beaches from 10 p.m. until 6 a.m. during those dates. Until Sept. 16, driving on the beach at night is prohibited, and after Nov. 15, a permit is not required. Night driving permits from Sept. 16 until Nov. 15 are required under the terms of the consent decree signed by U.S. District Court Judge Terrence W. Boyle on April 30 to help increase the nesting success of sea turtles, which are protected under the Endangered Species Act . There is no charge for the permit and no limit on the number of permits that will be issued. A PDF version of the night beach driving permit is available online and may be downloaded by clicking the link at the end of this article. The downloaded version of the permit should be printed in color if possible. Applicants who want a permit will have to sign that they have read the requirements, which include educational information about sea turtles that will still be nesting on the seashore until about mid-November. The information on the application includes instructions for what to do if you see a sea turtle at night and the types of lights and headlights that should and should not be used by folks who want to be on the beach at night. This has been a record year for sea turtle nesting on the seashore. As of Thursday, Aug. 28, there were 112 nests on the seashore, compared to 82 last year. By Saturday, Sept. 6, hard copies of the permit will be available at any Cape Hatteras National Seashore Visitor Center or campground or Outer Banks Visitors Bureau Welcome Center, as well as local tackle shops and realty offices. The permit must be signed by the driver and visibly displayed on the vehicle’s dashboard. Click here for a night beach driving permit application |
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