Nighttime Driving Restriction on Cape Hatteras National Seashore Beaches begins May 1

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Date: April 27, 2009
Contact: Outer Banks Group, (252) 473-2111

Superintendent Mike Murray reminds park visitor that beginning May 1, 2009 all Seashore beaches are closed to off-road vehicles (ORVs) between the hours of 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. in accordance with the court ordered consent decree.  Enforcement of the restriction will begin at midnight on April 30, 2009.  The 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. prohibition on beach driving will remain in effect until November 15.  Under the terms of the consent decree the National Park Service (NPS) may issue permits between September 16 and November 15 to authorize night driving on Seashore beaches between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. and NPS retains the discretion to limit night driving to certain areas or routes, based on resource protection considerations.  As occurred in 2008, just prior to September 16, NPS will announce the availability of the night driving permits and how to obtain the permit.  The permits will be available through November 15 at no charge and with no limit on the number of permits.

 

Cape Hatteras National Seashore provides crucial nesting habitat for loggerhead and green sea turtles, as well as the occasional leatherback.  Loggerhead and green turtles are currently listed threatened under the Endangered Species Act and leatherbacks are considered endangered.  Sea turtles typically lay nests at night between May and September, when adult turtles come ashore to dig a deep nest cavity in the sand and deposit around 100 ping-pong ball sized eggs into each nest.  While nesting, these turtles are susceptible to being disturbed by human activity on the beach.  If a nesting turtle is disturbed, it may not nest at all, or may lay a nest in a less than optimal area, resulting in the nest being washed out.  Once laid, eggs will incubate in the sand for 50-60 days before the hatchlings emerge and make their way to the ocean.  The hatchlings will use light cues in order to find their way from their nest to the sea, making them vulnerable to artificial lights from houses, piers, headlights, beach fires and lanterns.  If disoriented by artificial lights, hatchlings may wander away from the ocean and often die from exhaustion or predation as they wander around the beach.  Although studies vary, it is estimated that only 1 in 1000 to 1 in 10,000 hatchlings will survive to adulthood.  Ten to 15% of the turtle nests laid in North Carolina are laid on Cape Hatteras National Seashore beaches.  In 2008, a record 112 sea turtle nests were located and protected at the Seashore.

 

The night driving restriction will be posted at all Seashore ORV access ramps.  The regulation is enforceable by NPS law enforcement rangers and violators are subject to up to six months imprisonment and up to a $5,000 fine.  To report violations, contact: Dare Central Communications:  252-473-3444.  For further information, contact the Chief Ranger’s Office at 252-473-2111.



Last updated: April 14, 2015

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Cape Hatteras National Seashore
1401 National Park Drive

Manteo, NC 27954

Phone:

252 473-2111

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