On our vacation we learned that beaches in the state of Washington are considered to be highways.
I found THIS on Wikipedia:
According to the Washington State Department of Licensing, ocean beaches are legally state highways with a general speed limit of 25 mph (40 km/h), many only open to vehicles between the day after Labor Day and April 14,[13] but state law places the beaches under the control of the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission and only designates them as "public highways".[14][15][16]
Hmmm? Who would've thought it? Pair that with the following info.:
State Laws:
- All ATVs must be titled and registered, with owners receiving an Off-Road Vehicle use permit and ORV tag to place on their ATV, unless used solely on agricultural lands owned or leased by the ATV owner or operator.
- ATVs shall not be operated between dusk and dawn without a lighted taillight and headlight.
- No one under age 13 may operate an ATV on or across a highway or road except on a road designated for off-highway vehicle use under direct supervision of a person at least 18 who has a driver's license.
Oddly, it is legal to drive a minivan on the beach. You can make a campfire on the beach. You can drive motorcycles on the beach. You can fly a kite on the beach, but not ATVs. Hmmm?
We did not find this out until we hauled three of our ATVs all the way to Pacific Beach, drove from our lodging there to Ocean Shores, unloaded them from the trailer and had someone drive up and tell us that if we did not pack it up we would get a fine.
I did get a few cool pictures in that 15 minute time frame though:
More beach/vacation photos are forthcoming!
