Of course they'll exempt themselves and call that equal protection under the law...

The Need to FIRE ALL elected officials becomes more obiouse every day for those paying attention ( and paying all the taxes ).

MB

 

Can anybody explain what damage could be done to the beaches or public by someone driving a UTV? What's the difference between a golf cart and a side-by-side UTV? Just looks to me like another attempt to restrict access and impede on the open beaches act.

 

I'm wondering the same thing. How is a Mule different than a Golf cart?? I saw an older couple on a Mule at Matagorda Beach this weekend. They live in one of the beach houses and the Mule is their "cart" of choice.

Why does Tiger Woods get elite status on the beach ???

 

Why? I don't get why people want to do 50 MPH down the beach! Why?

The other morning we had a very top heavy Mule with quail seats on back blow between us and the break doin about 30...WHY? And this is in Sargent...

Come on guys...please keep this cr*p in Galveston...we love to have down time in Sargent without having to watch out for incoming Houstonians in a hurry to....

Wish I could've got a pic, they came all the way from the hard pack down to swoop around us...

By the way...I'd like to see all the golf carts on the friggin golf course! WT? What is so cool about running up and down the road time and time again? Get out in the marsh and see some really cool stuff and leave Houston in Houston...thanks! : )

 

Why? I don't get why people want to do 50 MPH down the beach! Why?

The other morning we had a very top heavy Mule with quail seats on back blow between us and the break doin about 30...WHY? And this is in Sargent...

Come on guys...please keep this cr*p in Galveston...we love to have down time in Sargent without having to watch out for incoming Houstonians in a hurry to....

Wish I could've got a pic, they came all the way from the hard pack down to swoop around us...

By the way...I'd like to see all the golf carts on the friggin golf course! WT? What is so cool about running up and down the road time and time again? Get out in the marsh and see some really cool stuff and leave Houston in Houston...thanks! : )

You sir are generalizing the whole UTV riding public.
For starters, You don't own the beach personally! The public does!
2nd, You are basically just stated that people on UTV's are not welcome in Sargent, whether they own a beach house down there or not. Some people prefer to take their utv's to the beach rathan than taking the car or truck due to getting sand inside and out leading to having to spend 3 hrs detailing it later, or maybe they live there and have a utv for trotting down to the beach instead of driving a car which gets probably worse gas mileage.
Your statement is completely ignorant because one person did you worng on the beach and you need to take your frustrations out on the general public. Driving a utv on the beach is really no different from driving a car or a truck on the beach.
Granted some people are blissfully unaware of what is going on around them but you shouldn't hang the whole public for one guys mistake.
You have a biased opinion about something because of one stupid incident.
I myself a couple of months ago had my rzr on the beach and never once got above 10mph. I kept a wide birth from anyone parked,walking, or laying on the beach out of respect and so that everyone could enjoy the beach the same as I was. Yeah I would be ****** off if they came really close, throwing sand in my drink or hitting fishing lines. But you can not blame the public as a whole for one buttholes mistake.
You sound just like the DA that is trying to push his weight around over on Boliver. From everything I have read it was legal, then he had some complaints from homeowners so he in turn changed the law to include UTV's on the ban, without the publics knowledge. That my friend is illegal. He can't do it and that is why inforcement has been put on hold until clarification can be had. I have been keeping track of this matter very closely and will continue and when they rule that it is ok I will be riding my UTV on the beach with my god given right to enjoy the PUBLIC beach! :cheers:

 

just remember it only takes a few a holes to ruin it for everyone i bet its from people ripping up and down the beach and doing donuts in the sand.

 

Again, just a few idiots making donuts on the beach with their mule and they made this law rather than enforcing existing law (reckless driving/operating of a "vehicle"). This prevents the enjoyment of many.

 

Not really news.

ATVs were prohibited before....now they are just clarifying/including the side by side Mule type ATVs to the prohibition. Bottom line, you are legal in an electric cart, or a street legal gas vehicle.

 

ATVs were prohibited before....now they are just clarifying/including the side by side Mule type ATVs to the prohibition. Bottom line, you are legal in an electric cart, or a street legal gas vehicle.

This is true. They have always been illegal...they just decided to start enforcing it. I heard right after the storm that they were planning on cracking down. That's why I decided not to replace my Japanese mini truck.

Some people are saying that one person with heavy influence complained hence the crack down, but I have no proof of that. Also, some people are saying the Sheriff's office told them they were legal and they went out and spent $10k only to get a warning this past week. This could get ugly!

I agree that it is ridiculous!

What I was told is it has to be street legal, titled, and able to be register or it is illegal...unless it's a golf cart.

CB

 

That is BS leave our Beach alone.

 

Was down there 3 weeks ago with 2 Polaris Rangers and sheriff's department didn't bother us at all.

 

Dihlon, enforcement just started...3 weeks ago Galv Co wasn't enforcing pending the clarification from the DA.

Sad. I have friends that spent a load of $ on a Can Am just to ride it in the beach...

 

Sad to see......but an ATV in the wrong hands can be as annoying as a jet ski in the same peoples hands.

 

I guess I will not be going to crystall or bolivar anymore. No need to rent a beach house either.. The only lure to that area is that I can drive my Ranger.

I just found this:

Golf Cart / UTV Rules
​

1. A golf cart/UTV is a motor vehicle. All rules that apply to a car or truck also apply to carts/UTVs including traffic laws. All rules apply on the beach also.

2. You must have a valid driver's license to operate a golf cart/UTV.

3. You may only operate a golf cart/UTV on a roadway (including ditches) that has a speed limit of not more than 35 mph. YOU CANNOT OPERATE ON A HIGHWAY. You may cross the highway at a traffic control device but only go straight across.

4. You can only operate a golf cart/UTV between sunrise and sunset.

5. You must have a slow moving triangle on the rear of the cart/UTV.
6. Neither the driver nor passenger of a golf cart/UTV may have an open container of alcohol in it, even if it is not moving.

7. If an unlicensed driver is operating a golf cart/UTV, the parent or person in charge of the cart may be charged with "allowing an unlicensed driver to operate a motor vehicle".

8. A golf cart/UTV must have a beach parking sticker to park on the beach.

9. If the cart/UTV is equipped with safety belts, they must be worn.

For clarification, 3 and 4 wheelers are classified at ATVs. Ranger, Mules etc are classified as UTVs.
UTVs are legal and must follow the same rules as golf carts.
ATVs CANNOT be operated on beaches of public roadways.
The Galveston County Sheriff's Office and Precinct 6 Constable's Office are stepping up enforcement of these laws. The number of accidents resulting in serious bodily and death have increased dramatically recently due to the popularity of these vehicles. These are not new laws, warnings have been given for years but most have been ignored.

 

I guess I will not be going to crystall or bolivar anymore. No need to rent a beach house either.. The only lure to that area is that I can drive my Ranger.

I just found this:

those are the "old" rules they have been using since this spring.

 

I was there all last week and bought my beach parking sticker from a lady driving a Mule with Tx parks stickers all over it. I saw just as many side by side as golf carts and only saw one get stopped. Under age driver up on the dunes.

 

That is new. I know plenty of folks who are going to be in for a big surprise. And I won't blame them for being mad. That is changing the rules in the middle of the game. I will be surprised if the law remains the same for very long. Too many people with too much money invested.

 

Why would someone drive an electric golfcart on the beach in the first place? Corrosion loves everything electrical. One little hint of that salty air, and your wires will turn to green dust.

 

sorry for the short notice - but if you have a UTV and are on the peninsula today, bring it to barrel 49 on the beach near S. O'Neil Rd.

Galveston Daily News is doing a story and the photographer will be there at 3PM to take some photos.

 

The Daily News from Aug 15th

http://galvestondailynews.com/story/250606

**The comments were kinda funny

 

I spoke with a GSO Sgt and two deputies yesterday and asked them about utvs on beaches. They said no way and you'd get a citation or goto jail. They were very rude and ugly, funny thing was i was in uniform (police) on my way to work. They said its been the law since 2009 i have been an officer for 12 years and no i still don't know every law there is but i told them i have never heard of it. When i got to work i looked it up in the Texas transportation code. Lots about utv and atv but i saw nothing about them on beaches. I called tpwd and a supervisor stated its not a state law but maybe county ordinance. There's a beach down south where it is legal to drive whatever you want he said somewhere close to Mexico here in Texas so it can't be state law. I think its a crock. What harm are some people like my folks driving my kids around the beach on a mule. Go down there during spring break and check out the school kids drinking donuts and dune crawling. Im sure they tear the beach up with their jacked up trucks more so then a darn mule. Just my .02 and its making the county or somebody money by charging $10 for the beach sticker per vehicle mule or cart. Crazy!

 

I was down last weekend on my golf cart must have been 10- 15 utv on beach. I did see SO get some kids on a 4 wheeler. Had mom and dad on the side of road with a ticket in hand. Last report i saw on www.crystalbeach.com said SO was not going after them until another hearing. ronnie

 

I wonder if it has anything to do with the city being able to consider the beach a legal roadway? If they allow ATVs/UTVs maybe it would hurt their cases against drivers of cars/trucks breaking traffic laws on a "road" (as they call it) because if they allow ATVs/UTVs then it can't be a "road".

 

i'm on the beach at least once every weekend (in my truck). i see considerably more dangerous activity from drunks driving automobiles than i do from atv/utv's. i don't remember ever seeing an atv/utv going over the dunes.

i guess i don't see a big problem with the atv's.

btw, was there last sunday and spotted several on the beach. i was told that GCSO is still giving warnings.

on a slightly different note, if the LEO's spot you with a beer on a golf cart or atv - parked, driving or riding, you'll get a ticket (at minimum).

 

I do not agree at all with any type of vehicle on the beach. They do far more damage than they are dangerous. I know that there are a few that follow the rules and are just there for a good time, but it is not all that is on the beach. Most of the idiots are out there between midnight to sun up.

 

The beach between the high tide mark and dunes is considered a street and has enforceable laws and speed limits. Always has. Just hasn't always been a need to enforce it. We were some of the first to rebuild after Ike in Crystal, and I have watched it get out of hand since then. we are several mile from the zoo, and even still the number of atv/utv was crazy Memorial day. Most driven by people too young, and almost all driven too fast for the crowd. I know there are plenty of good and responsible drivers out there, and that sux for them. Sell you UTV and go buy a jeep.
I for one am glad its happening. Thats my opinion. Here are pics of the flyer that was mentioned.