North Carolina

Driving on the beach is now prohibited at night in the Cape Hatteras National Seashore under a consent decree to protect nesting sea turtles.

Off-road vehicles are not allowed on seashore beaches between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. The prohibition started Saturday night.

The restriction is aimed at protecting loggerhead and green turtles and an occasional leatherback. Loggerhead and green turtles are listed as threatened species and the leatherback is considered endangered.

Nearly a year after a fatal four-wheeler accident in Millers Creek, the driver of that off-road vehicle is being sought for murder. Marc Edwin Henry, 40, formerly of Homestead Drive, Hays has been charged in connection with a March 20, 2010 four-wheeler accident on Darnell Creek Road that claimed the life of a Hays woman, according to Trooper J.G. Crane of the N.C. Highway Patrol. Henry’s passenger, Shelia Wingler Shumate, 40, died at the scene of massive head injuries, Crane said. At about 11:30 that night, Henry lost control in a sharp curve, the four-wheeler careening down a steep embankment. The second-degree murder charge was filed because Henry was impaired at the time of this wreck and had two prior convictions for driving while impaired. Authorities believe he is in Florida, and he has been entered as wanted in the national criminal database.

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Source: http://www.goblueridge.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=11345

Steve Welker

Burke County’s progress toward an ordinance regulating off-road racetracks has had more fits, starts and stalls than a ‘71 AMC Gremlin.

More than a year since the issue had its debut in a planning and zoning board memo, the proposed ordinance has made a circuitous route back to the county commissioners’ boardroom.

Sharon McBrayer

Morganton -- Commissioners will hold a public hearing tonight on a proposed amendment to the county ordinance regulating off-highway vehicle use on private property.


The Burke County Board of Commissioners’ hearing also includes a zoning text amendment to the ordinance regarding commercial racetracks. 
Off-highway vehicles are ATVs or off-highway motorcycles or other vehicles used for recreational purposes. 
The ordinance proposed to regulate riding on private property addresses noise and dust levels. The ordinance says sound levels can’t be above 65 decibels at any point on a property.

Park rangers say a Maryland man literally forgot to cover his tracks on the Outer Banks. Now he and another man have been charged with making "donuts" on protected areas of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore.

Daniel Hunt from Maryland and Brian Tillett of Rodanthe were charged with multiple violations.

A teenager driving an ATV led Rockingham County deputies on a chase near Reidsville early Saturday morning, according to the sheriff's office.

A deputy spotted two young men on an ATV around 1:32 a.m. near Highway 87 and Parker Road in Reidsville. When the deputy stopped to see if assistance was needed, the driver on the ATV sped off.

Park officials on the North Carolina coast are seeking information after a nesting female loggerhead turtle was hit and killed by an off-road vehicle.

The National Park Service said on Friday that the turtle was killed on Ocracoke Island during the night between June 23 and 24. It was found by a turtle patrol around 6:10 p.m. on Thursday.

Jon Ostendorff

MURPHY — Off-road vehicle advocates are suing the U.S. Forest Service over the agency's plans to close the popular Upper Tellico trail area in the Nantahala National Forest.

The move is the latest development in a four-year legal battle between four-wheel drive enthusiasts, environmentalists and the government over use of the area.

The deadline has come for public comment on the draft environmental impact statement for the off-road driving plan at Cape Hatteras National Seashore.

Today is the final day for both written and electronic comments to the National Park Service. Electronic comments may be submitted online until midnight Mountain Daylight Time. Written comments must be postmarked no later than May 11. Written comments may be mailed or hand-delivered but cannot be faxed or e-mailed.