Chapter 7.16
VEHICLES IN BEACH AREAS
Sections:
7.16.020 Operating, stopping or parking of motor vehicles in beach areas prohibited – Exceptions.
7.16.030 Operating, stopping or parking of motor vehicles on storm berms prohibited.
7.16.040 Impoundment authorized.
7.16.010 Definitions.
In this chapter:
“Beach area” means all of the following, whether publicly or privately owned: submerged land, tideland, and the zone of sand, gravel and other unconsolidated materials that extends landward from the elevation of mean high water to the place where there is a marked change in material or physiographic form.
“Berm” means a natural, linear mound or series of mounds in a beach area composed of sand, gravel, or both, generally paralleling the water at or landward of the elevation of mean high water.
“Motor vehicle” means a device in, upon, or by which a person or property may be transported or drawn upon or immediately over land, that is self-propelled except by human or animal power.
“Storm berm” means a berm formed by the upper reach of storm wave surges or the highest tides. Storm berms generally include an accumulation of seaweed, driftwood, and other waterborne materials. A beach area may have more than one storm berm.
“Submerged land” means land covered by tidal water from the elevation of mean low water seaward to the corporate boundary of the city.
“Tideland” means land that is periodically covered by tidal water between the elevation of mean high water and mean low water. [Ord. 16-05(S-2)(A-2) § 2, 2016].
7.16.020 Operating, stopping or parking of motor vehicles in beach areas prohibited – Exceptions.
a. Except as provided in subsections (b) through (d) of this section, no person may operate, stop or park a motor vehicle within or upon any beach area.
b. A person may operate, stop or park a motor vehicle within and upon the beach area east of a line extending south from the southern end of a line extending south from the southern end of the vacated easement formally known as Shirlene Circle, and within and upon the beach area west of Bishops Beach Park Access.
c. A person may operate, stop or park a motor vehicle within and upon the beach area between the south end of Mariner Park beach to the east end of the seawall from September 15th through April 15th solely for the purpose of gathering sand and coal.
d. An owner of property immediately adjacent to a beach area may operate, stop and park a motor vehicle within or upon a beach area as is reasonably necessary to maintain the owner’s property, in accordance with the terms of a permit issued for that purpose by the Chief of Police.
e. Nothing in this section permits a person to operate, stop or park a motor vehicle within or upon privately owned property in a beach area without the permission of the property owner. [Ord. 24-60 § 1, 2024; Ord. 16-13 § 1, 2016; Ord. 16-05(S-2)(A-2) § 2, 2016].
7.16.030 Operating, stopping or parking of motor vehicles on storm berms prohibited.
No person may operate, stop or park a motor vehicle upon a storm berm. [Ord. 16-05(S-2)(A-2) § 2, 2016].
7.16.040 Impoundment authorized.
A vehicle that is stopped or parked in violation of this chapter may be impounded as provided in Chapter 7.10 HCC. [Ord. 16-05(S-2)(A-2) § 2, 2016].