OT - New Hatteras beach driving rules

[finatic Jason]

Saw on the Va board that new fees for driving on the beach in Hatteras will start Feb. 15th... http://www.nps.gov/caha. This will just hurt the folks down there. Many people vist to drive on and fish from the beach. I'm sure a few of you vacation there and thought this might interest you!

[Tiderunner0315]

Saw on the Va board that new fees for driving on the beach in Hatteras will start Feb. 15th... http://www.nps.gov/caha. This will just hurt the folks down there. Many people vist to drive on and fish from the beach. I'm sure a few of you vacation there and thought this might interest you!

I just found out about this the other day. Its all part of the plan. Destroy the tourism and it wont be worth fixing Hwy 12 after the next storm. My family and I been going there since the mid 80s. Breaks my heart. Another example of the minority ruling the majority.

[Benelli]

I have been going down with my family for vacation since the 80's. I love to fish the Hatteras Inlet in the morning, and drive the wife and kids out on the beach in the afternoon. I usally spend on average of about $5,000 per year down there. I almost quit going when they started closing part of the beach for the Piping Plover issue. I think this is the end for me. From what I am reading, all the money from permits is being used to hire federal emplyoees to enforce the new regs. I feel awful for the poor folks down there that depend on tourism for there bread and butter, but I am done. Not to get political, but it looks like the tree huggers win again!

[hackeyfly]

How 'bout this- the Feds get out of the Outer Banks entirely, let the folks who live there make the rules. Of course, that would mean no more Fed $$$(millions and millions) to keep the inlets open and to fix the roads when they wash out, but folks keep saying they want the Feds out of their business, so that's a win for them. Put a toll booth on all the accesses to the island, and the locals can use that revenue to fund whatever improvements/projects they want. I would suggest that if they create a venue that lots of folks want to visit, they could easily support themselves with no Federal help. Seems to me as long as they accept Fed $$$, they are under the Feds boot. It's a tough situation, no doubt, but one that can surely be resolved with a bit of creative thinking.
Pat in Joppa

[drewzim]

I have been going down with my family for vacation since the 80's. I love to fish the Hatteras Inlet in the morning, and drive the wife and kids out on the beach in the afternoon. I usally spend on average of about $5,000 per year down there. I almost quit going when they started closing part of the beach for the Piping Plover issue. I think this is the end for me. From what I am reading, all the money from permits is being used to hire federal emplyoees to enforce the new regs. I feel awful for the poor folks down there that depend on tourism for there bread and butter, but I am done. Not to get political, but it looks like the tree huggers win again!

So you spend $5K a year down there but the extra $50 is going to break you? That's less then lunch for an average size family on vacation. It sucks but I don't see this as cost prohibitive. On the other hand I don't see how charging $50-$120 is going to protect wildlife either.

[Benelli]

It's not the $50, it's the principal. It's taking $$$ out of my pocket to put more federal workers on the Govt. Lamb. I've never seen any problems on the beach down there. It's all families on vacation. There is no need for for govt. regulation.

[finatic Jason]

So you spend $5K a year down there but the extra $50 is going to break you? That's less then lunch for an average size family on vacation. It sucks but I don't see this as cost prohibitive. On the other hand I don't see how charging $50-$120 is going to protect wildlife either.

It's the fact of it. You are taxed heavily and pay tons of fees to rent a house while your there. If you read about when the beaches were given to the park service, It was stated they are to remain FREE and open for people to use. It ain't free anymore. .............Oh yeah, now you need a free permit to have a fire on the beach. Can you imagine the line at the park service on Saturday's in season to watch the video, get your vehicle inspected, and pay the fee to get on the beach. People will be lined up down Hwy 12. That's if they still come.

[BigWillJ]

Y'all might not be up on all of it to be suggesting some of the things you're suggesting.

This whole mess has been brought about by SELC, DOW, and AS, in efforts to close the door on rights to public access. The rules do NOTHING to preserve and protect the resources.....which the people on the island have been doing successfully for years on their own. The monies collected will go for the supplies, facilities and people needed to enforce the rules and regs.

Do any of you even realize that these orgs are actually behind the indiscriminate killing of predators on the Outer Banks, in efforts to save a damned bird? Talk about upsetting the balance of nature!

[eastduck]

Really - $50 - come on, that's peanuts and not prohibitive to access at all.
In most states its hundreds if it's permitted at all.
Do you really believe that that OBX would be the same if left to local politics and the locals?
I lived in Buxton for 5 years and lived in KDH for 7 years.
If state or local government took over the national seashore, guess what? There would be houses from VA to SC on the beach because greed would take over.
How does everyone think local municipalities pay for anything? Property Tax, that's how!!!
Even tolls could not pay for a new bridge, washed out roads, or public docks.

Every hurricane FEMA would have to pay off flood insurance claims and rebuild the roads.

Families use the beach and that's great what a privilege. What about the last time I took my family to the OBX and watch some drunk idiot take his clothes off, while cussing profanities, and listening to music pumped out of a entirely too loud sound system. Thank god the feds showed up. I think he would have been killed. Do you think that the local municipality would have funded the same type of enforcement? The feds on the beaches in OBX don't restrict it idiots restrict use.

Face it without federal protection OBX, its way of life, it heritage, and its beaches would be much different. I would bet the people complaining about it now would have never gone in the first place. It won't slow tourism because people go to OBX to seek solitude, peace and quiet, and not Virginia Beach. So pay the $50 and enjoy the beach, catch some fish, and stop quibbling.

We complain about fees when we ignorantly shout out for smaller government, less spending, etc. How about we call our congressman and tell them not to cut federal funding to the park service so alternative ways to fund basic services like fees don’t have to be established.

[mrobertson]

Seems fair to me an in-line with how other States maintain their OSV beach services. Air pumps are provided to use as you enter and exit, trash pickup from stuff that is left or blows away, patrolling, more use if restrooms to maintain, repairing berms, a lot more. We have 2 guys per vehicle, 3 vehicles , $25 weekly split. Just happy to retain access because the fishing really picked up this year. Thanks for the info, I forwarded to my buddies and they have replied.

X2 - it's hard to accept change especially when it revolves around money. I'd be happy to pay the $50 if it means they keep the beach open for driving.

I keep saying it everyday..............everything keeps going up, except for my salary.