Beach Access Issues
September 15, 2008
Beaches open to night driving with permit on Sept. 16; Village beaches reopen to ORVs

On Tuesday, Sept. 16, the beaches of Cape Hatteras National Seashore will reopen to night driving, but all drivers must have a permit.

Also, on Sept. 16, seasonally closed beaches in the villages will reopen to ORVs.

Under the terms of a consent decree that settled a lawsuit against the National Park Service by environmental groups over ORV use on the seashore, driving on the beach at night is prohibited from May 1 through Sept. 16, and after Nov. 15, a permit is not required.

Night driving permits from Sept. 16 until Nov. 15 are required to help increase the nesting success of sea turtles, which are protected under the Endangered Species Act.
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There is no charge for the permit and no limit on the number of permits that will be issued. The permit must be displayed in the windshield of the vehicle, and driving is allowed only in areas open to ORVs.

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.

The permit is also available at all park Visitor Centers and campgrounds, at the Outer Banks Visitor Bureau Visitor Centers, and island tackle shops and realty offices.
 
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.

“With a record number of turtle nests on national seashore beaches this season, we are closely watching the impacts of night driving on the Seashore beaches,” said seashore superintendent Mike Murray.  “We are actively managing the situation to allow for ORV access wherever possible as well as protect the sea turtle nests and hatchlings.” 

All closed areas are clearly marked with Carsonite posts and signs.  Destruction of government property and entering a resource closure are federal criminal violations, each subject to up to a $5,000 fine and up to six months imprisonment.

The following beaches in the villages  reopen to ORV access on Tuesday, Sept. 16.

•    Tri-villages (Rodanthe-Waves-Salvo) beachfront. Approximately 3 miles in length. Extends from the southernmost boundary of Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge to Ramp 23.

•    Avon village beachfront. Approximately 4 miles in length.
 
•    Ocracoke village beachfront. Approximately 2.5 miles in length.

Visitors will find sea turtle nest protections area in effect.  Posted areas are closed to ORV, pedestrians, and pets.

For further information, please call (252) 473-2111 ext. 148.

Click here for a night beach driving permit application


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