Beach Driving

A Volusia County judge has ruled against a push to put beach driving before voters. A citizens group wanted to amend the county charter to let voters decide.

Volusia County officials say their move to raise beach driving rates this year is paying off. Revenue from beach driving passes is up even though the total number of beach passes sold is down slightly.

There aren’t many beaches that allow you to drive right onto the sand. Daytona Beach is one of the few, and it’s become something of a unique tradition there, even a point of pride. So when the Volusia County Council voted last month to restrict beach driving in front of a few proposed five-star hotels, there was an outcry from some residents. Council members say curtailing the beach driving will stimulate development. But locals say the beach driving itself is a tourism draw. Now, the fight is going to court in the first of what may be many battles over beach driving.

Daytona Beach is branded ‘The Original American Beach’, and the city’s long been synonymous with motor sports like NASCAR, the Daytona International Speedway , bike week and beach driving. But as Florida’s economy picks up after a long recession, some say Daytona needs to do more to keep up with that wave, drawing more visitors with higher-end hotels and more family oriented attractions.

A vote by the Volusia County Council increases the number of miles cars will be banned on Daytona Beach. Thursday's vote followed hours of testimony from supporters and opponents of the move.

The Volusia County Council is considering whether curbing beach driving in new areas could help the economy. 90.7's Renata Sago reports, council members could vote next month on whether to restrict driving from a one mile-strip of beach land where two hotels plan to open.