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A summer topic, should driving be forbidden on ocean beaches?

Ikari said:
I'm not a beach person. The ocean is dark and full of terrors. But I can see why people wouldn't want to do it. First off, there can very easily be contamination with all sorts of various fluids and such from a car. And that will likely be absorbed into the sand, but it's still there. If it aggregates too much, it can have a significant impact.

There does seem to be some danger with it. Aren't there people like laying out on the beach and kids running about? Or do they somehow separate out driving beaches and where people hang? If some yahoo is tearing it up, it seems like it's a recipe for disaster. Particularly with the younger generation who more and more do not think about the repercussions of their actions.

Does it cause erosion of the beach? Maybe if the beach is large enough, it's cool. I don't know. But if there is erosion, then that would be an issue too.

Driving over animal habitats might be a concern if there are endangered species in the area or people don't like seeing roadkill while hanging out at the beach.

But all of this can be easily circumvented by avoiding the beach. It's a horrible place, the ocean will eat you and the sun will give you cancer. Just stay home and play XBox instead.
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Nope, you're required to drive only on "the upper most hard packed sand" and the speed limit on all ocean beaches is 25 mph but there's no physical seperation of those portions of the coast.

however unlike a previous poster who says beaches are not patrolled, Washington state park rangers (who are commissioned LEOs in this state) do drive around the beaches looking for violators. a friend of mine got ticketed for operating an ATV on the beach (state law requires only road legal licensed vehicles) last year, so there is some enforcement presence, at least during the summer.
 
AlbqOwl said:
I strongly agree with the 'leave only footprints' policy. As for driving on the beach, if it is a secluded area and your purpose is to get to a good picnic spot, I see no real harm in allowing that. As a playground for dune buggies and such that tear up the terrain and disturb wildlife, let's send those to the desert where they belong and leave the beaches alone. As for dogs, it is a joyous thing for both owners and the dogs to romp on the beach. .. BUT. . .the laws should be the same as in the city. If you dog leaves a present there, scoop it up and take it with you. Ditto for littering laws. Whatever stuff you transport onto the beach should go home with you or be placed in public trash receptacles.

Social pressures should be for consideration for others, good manners, environment and aesthetic consciousness, and common sense.
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We have just as much right to the beach as you do.. You want to just make a law and kick us off just like that without even offering a designated area deal or anything?

Thats pretty screwed..
 
Orly? said:
We have just as much right to the beach as you do.. You want to just make a law and kick us off just like that without even offering a designated area deal or anything?

Thats pretty screwed..
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I'm not opposed to a designated area where you won't disturb the peace for everybody else, won't disturb the wildlife, or create an aesthetically unpleasing condition. Again the rule of thumb should be consideration for others, good manners, environment and aesthetic consciousness, and common sense.
 
There is no question in my mind that emergency vehicles should be allowed to drive on the beach.

As for private citizens, i don't really care. I think some beaches should be open for driving.

I think people who care a great deal about the long term health of their car should probably avoid it. Depositing salt on your underbody contributes even more to wear and tear, when the salty sea air is already bad enough.
 
Orly? said:
We have just as much right to the beach as you do.. You want to just make a law and kick us off just like that without even offering a designated area deal or anything?

Thats pretty screwed..
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YOU do, your vehicle does not. What is screwed is that you have no problem pissing in everyone else's cornflakes.
 
EMNofSeattle said:
I was having a conversation about this a couple of days ago, a friend of mine thinks that operating a car on ocean beaches is bad for the environment, specific reasons included that vehicles can leak fluids onto beach habitats, that driving can result in driving over bird nesting grounds, and clam beds. a non environmental reason involves safety of beachgoers.

now here in Washington state we have (I think we're unique in the country in this regard) a law that declares the majority of all ocean beaches in the state to be public highways open to road traffic. well in two out of 4 coastal counties, Pacific and Grays Harbor one can drive on beaches, the next two counties (Jefferson and Clallam) have rockey beaches one can't really drive on. but the default state of beaches in this state is open to vehicle traffic unless posted. I was surprised to learn this is not the case in Oregon and California.

But some wish to see beach driving outlawed in Washington entirely.
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I think cars should be off limits without a special pass, that indicates your vehicle was recently inspected for fluid leaks. people who want to drive, can pay for such state run inspection.

We do have areas in Oregon where local communities have posted no unauthorized vehicles on the beach. It is a local matter.
 
clownboy said:
I agree, no cars/trucks on the beaches. Also, no dogs. Some of our beaches are beginning to resemble a giant litter box.
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Oh yes.

Get the filthy dogs off the beach, Who wants feces in a water playground?
 
Lord of Planar said:
I think cars should be off limits without a special pass, that indicates your vehicle was recently inspected for fluid leaks. people who want to drive, can pay for such state run inspection.

We do have areas in Oregon where local communities have posted no unauthorized vehicles on the beach. It is a local matter.
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What would probably be a solution.

Personally I have no problem with allowing road legal vehicles on the beach at all, I like Washington's open access/public highway law.
although I do not drive on beaches myself
 
EMNofSeattle said:
What would probably be a solution.

Personally I have no problem with allowing road legal vehicles on the beach at all, I like Washington's open access/public highway law.
although I do not drive on beaches myself
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Absolutely no.

Road legal vehicles are not inspected for fluid leaks.

Now if you want to change the registration standards as strict as they are in Germany... That would be OK.
 
Lord of Planar said:
Absolutely no.

Road legal vehicles are not inspected for fluid leaks.

Now if you want to change the registration standards as strict as they are in Germany... That would be OK.
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But I do not believe fluid leaks are as a big a problem as people make it.

if anything It's actually worse that they leak on the road then the beach, because leaks can be washed down storm drains into rivers or sheltered bays where the volume of water is far lower, and thus the effect of pollution is greater. the remember, the solution to pollution is dilution.
 
Orly? said:
Liberals always want more laws..
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Conservation of natural resources is a valid concept. Fish and game laws and regulations exist for good reasons. I would ban motorized vehicles from all beaches except for a handful designated for that kind of recreation.

More than a few desert areas in California have been ruined after a handful of off road hobbyists turned into legions of off road fanatics with ever more destructive habits and ever more powerful machines. I am surprised that has not happened to the Washington beaches. Maybe the tides restore them?
 
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