KEY POINTS:
Traffic police are focussing their attention on beaches after public concern sparked a summer crackdown on drivers.
Beaches that have access for vehicles are subject to the same rules as the open road but some drivers ignore them, putting themselves and other beachgoers at risk.
Areas of particular concern in Northland include Ahipara, Ninety Mile Beach, Ruakaka, Pouto Peninsula, Ripiro Beach and Uretiti.
In December 2005, 18-year-old Luke Newman died after crashing his motorbike on Tuna Tuna Beach, near Ahipara.
That death led to calls from residents living along that beach, and others regularly used by motorcyclists, for something to be done to control vehicles on beaches.
Now, the irresponsible and sometimes dangerous behaviour by a small, hard-core group of motorists has forced officials to join forces for several education and enforcement days on beaches over the next few weeks.
Northland Regional Council coastal monitoring team leader Bruce Howse said people who responsibly use four-wheel-drives, motorbikes and other vehicles on beaches will have nothing to fear as they are not the target of the campaign.
"The primary focus will be those who travel at reckless speeds close to other beach users or whose behaviour is affecting wildlife or damaging fragile dunes and vegetation," Mr Howse said.
Dangerous behaviour in past summers includes motorcyclists jumping over sand dunes and narrowly missing unsuspecting sunbathers on the other side.
No one organisation is solely responsible for monitoring driver behaviour on beaches. But the NRC, Whangarei, Far North and Kaipara district councils, the police and the Department of Conservation all play some role.
"The police are responsible for dealing with dangerous drivers, those under the influence of drink and drugs or driving unwarranted or unregistered vehicles. DOC becomes involved when vehicles are endangering marine life, disturbing birds or destroying archaeological sites," Mr Howse said.
"Northland Regional Council also has some responsibilities relating to unsafe drivers as well as vehicles destroying vegetation or damaging sand dunes."
District councils are responsible for the management and use of vehicle access routes to beaches within their respective districts and on their reserves.
Those who run foul of authorities during the enforcement days will face a number of penalties ranging from warnings and fines to arrests and court appearances.
Mr Howse said the campaign is a direct result of public concern about the use of the beaches.
"So far this summer the regional council alone had received about a dozen complaints...including a petition calling for action from concerned Kaipara residents," he said.
- NORTHERN ADVOCATE (WHANGAREI)
