First day of ORV permit sales is slow and quiet on Ocracoke
By CONNIE LEINBACH
By CONNIE LEINBACH
By CONNIE LEINBACH
A handful of fishermen were in line at 8 a.m. Wednesday at the new trailer behind the Park Service Visitor Center at the southern ferry docks to be the first to purchase off-road vehicle permits.
“I don’t expect them to be beating down the doors today,” noted Kenny Ballance, NPS supervisory district ranger. “It’s a typical day for us.”
He expected many locals would get their permits immediately so that they can start using them right away.
By 8:30, a half dozen folks had filled out the registration and viewed the seven-minute video.
Rick Mansfield and Greg Thompson, of Norfolk, were first in line.
A handful of fishermen were in line at 8 a.m. Wednesday at the new trailer behind the Park Service Visitor Center at the southern ferry docks to be the first to purchase off-road vehicle permits.
“I don’t expect them to be beating down the doors today,” noted Kenny Ballance, NPS supervisory district ranger. “It’s a typical day for us.”
He expected many locals would get their permits immediately so that they can start using them right away.
By 8:30, a half dozen folks had filled out the registration and viewed the seven-minute video.
Rick Mansfield and Greg Thompson, of Norfolk, were first in line.
A handful of fishermen were in line at 8 a.m. Wednesday at the new trailer behind the Park Service Visitor Center at the southern ferry docks to be the first to purchase off-road vehicle permits.
“I don’t expect them to be beating down the doors today,” noted Kenny Ballance, NPS supervisory district ranger. “It’s a typical day for us.”
He expected many locals would get their permits immediately so that they can start using them right away.
By 8:30, a half dozen folks had filled out the registration and viewed the seven-minute video.
Rick Mansfield and Greg Thompson, of Norfolk, were first in line.
A handful of fishermen were in line at 8 a.m. Wednesday at the new trailer behind the Park Service Visitor Center at the southern ferry docks to be the first to purchase off-road vehicle permits.
“I don’t expect them to be beating down the doors today,” noted Kenny Ballance, NPS supervisory district ranger. “It’s a typical day for us.”
He expected many locals would get their permits immediately so that they can start using them right away.
By 8:30, a half dozen folks had filled out the registration and viewed the seven-minute video.
Rick Mansfield and Greg Thompson, of Norfolk, were first in line.
The two had come down to Ocracoke on Tuesday in order to get their permits on Wednesday.
“We don’t normally come down in February,” Mansfield said, but they came down specifically to get the beach driving permit.
The two had come down to Ocracoke on Tuesday in order to get their permits on Wednesday.
“We don’t normally come down in February,” Mansfield said, but they came down specifically to get the beach driving permit.
The two had come down to Ocracoke on Tuesday in order to get their permits on Wednesday.
“We don’t normally come down in February,” Mansfield said, but they came down specifically to get the beach driving permit.
The two had come down to Ocracoke on Tuesday in order to get their permits on Wednesday.
“We don’t normally come down in February,” Mansfield said, but they came down specifically to get the beach driving permit.
“I’ve been driving on the beach for 30 years,” he said after watching the video. “Now I’m educated.”
He echoed others who wished the National Park Service would allow sports and tackle shops to sell the permits online “rather than three places on the entire Outer Banks.”
Ballance said the NPS hired some new workers for this expanded operation. Three of them were in the trailer for the first day.
“I’ve been driving on the beach for 30 years,” he said after watching the video. “Now I’m educated.”
He echoed others who wished the National Park Service would allow sports and tackle shops to sell the permits online “rather than three places on the entire Outer Banks.”
Ballance said the NPS hired some new workers for this expanded operation. Three of them were in the trailer for the first day.
“I’ve been driving on the beach for 30 years,” he said after watching the video. “Now I’m educated.”
He echoed others who wished the National Park Service would allow sports and tackle shops to sell the permits online “rather than three places on the entire Outer Banks.”
Ballance said the NPS hired some new workers for this expanded operation. Three of them were in the trailer for the first day.
“I’ve been driving on the beach for 30 years,” he said after watching the video. “Now I’m educated.”
He echoed others who wished the National Park Service would allow sports and tackle shops to sell the permits online “rather than three places on the entire Outer Banks.”
Ballance said the NPS hired some new workers for this expanded operation. Three of them were in the trailer for the first day.
Of course, he expects rental changeover days during the summer to be more crowded.
The Ocracoke permit site will be open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. every day except Christmas, said Marcie Wilson, one of the new NPS workers. She said the office will be open later in the day in the summer, but those hours have not yet been determined.
After the permit seekers fill out the application form, they move to the video viewing room, which can hold 12. After that, they sign the application and pay the fee — $120 for an annual permit and $50 for a weekly permit.
Of course, he expects rental changeover days during the summer to be more crowded.
The Ocracoke permit site will be open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. every day except Christmas, said Marcie Wilson, one of the new NPS workers. She said the office will be open later in the day in the summer, but those hours have not yet been determined.
After the permit seekers fill out the application form, they move to the video viewing room, which can hold 12. After that, they sign the application and pay the fee — $120 for an annual permit and $50 for a weekly permit.
Of course, he expects rental changeover days during the summer to be more crowded.
The Ocracoke permit site will be open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. every day except Christmas, said Marcie Wilson, one of the new NPS workers. She said the office will be open later in the day in the summer, but those hours have not yet been determined.
After the permit seekers fill out the application form, they move to the video viewing room, which can hold 12. After that, they sign the application and pay the fee — $120 for an annual permit and $50 for a weekly permit.
Of course, he expects rental changeover days during the summer to be more crowded.
The Ocracoke permit site will be open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. every day except Christmas, said Marcie Wilson, one of the new NPS workers. She said the office will be open later in the day in the summer, but those hours have not yet been determined.
After the permit seekers fill out the application form, they move to the video viewing room, which can hold 12. After that, they sign the application and pay the fee — $120 for an annual permit and $50 for a weekly permit.
Ballance went out to the beach twice Wednesday, and said everyone he encountered had a permit. There will be a one-month “transition” period until the park rangers will begin enforcing the rules for the mandatory permit.
Signs regarding required permits will be installed at all the ramps along the Cape Hatteras National Seashore on Feb. 21, he said.
Ballance went out to the beach twice Wednesday, and said everyone he encountered had a permit. There will be a one-month “transition” period until the park rangers will begin enforcing the rules for the mandatory permit.
Signs regarding required permits will be installed at all the ramps along the Cape Hatteras National Seashore on Feb. 21, he said.
Ballance went out to the beach twice Wednesday, and said everyone he encountered had a permit. There will be a one-month “transition” period until the park rangers will begin enforcing the rules for the mandatory permit.
Signs regarding required permits will be installed at all the ramps along the Cape Hatteras National Seashore on Feb. 21, he said.
Ballance went out to the beach twice Wednesday, and said everyone he encountered had a permit. There will be a one-month “transition” period until the park rangers will begin enforcing the rules for the mandatory permit.
Signs regarding required permits will be installed at all the ramps along the Cape Hatteras National Seashore on Feb. 21, he said.
Late Wednesday afternoon, Ballance said that 22 permits had been sold on Ocracoke.
Yesterday, on an overcast Tuesday afternoon, a handful of anglers were on the South Point beach to do some fishing on the last official day that driving on the seashore beaches was free.
Most were resigned to the idea of the mandatory permits.
“I will get one tomorrow,” said local resident Brian Warren as he and others moved their fishing locations. “I have no choice.”
The quest Tuesday was for red drum and speckled trout, but catches were scarce.
“They’re not biting,” said Ocracoke native Thomas Midgett, who reset his line. He said he goes fishing at least 150 days of the year.
“I’m against having to pay,” he said, “but I’m gonna pay it.”
But, he noted that maybe it will be a good thing. Permits might keep away those who abuse driving privileges.
Late Wednesday afternoon, Ballance said that 22 permits had been sold on Ocracoke.
Yesterday, on an overcast Tuesday afternoon, a handful of anglers were on the South Point beach to do some fishing on the last official day that driving on the seashore beaches was free.
Most were resigned to the idea of the mandatory permits.
“I will get one tomorrow,” said local resident Brian Warren as he and others moved their fishing locations. “I have no choice.”
The quest Tuesday was for red drum and speckled trout, but catches were scarce.
“They’re not biting,” said Ocracoke native Thomas Midgett, who reset his line. He said he goes fishing at least 150 days of the year.
“I’m against having to pay,” he said, “but I’m gonna pay it.”
But, he noted that maybe it will be a good thing. Permits might keep away those who abuse driving privileges.
Late Wednesday afternoon, Ballance said that 22 permits had been sold on Ocracoke.
Yesterday, on an overcast Tuesday afternoon, a handful of anglers were on the South Point beach to do some fishing on the last official day that driving on the seashore beaches was free.
Most were resigned to the idea of the mandatory permits.
“I will get one tomorrow,” said local resident Brian Warren as he and others moved their fishing locations. “I have no choice.”
The quest Tuesday was for red drum and speckled trout, but catches were scarce.
“They’re not biting,” said Ocracoke native Thomas Midgett, who reset his line. He said he goes fishing at least 150 days of the year.
“I’m against having to pay,” he said, “but I’m gonna pay it.”
But, he noted that maybe it will be a good thing. Permits might keep away those who abuse driving privileges.
Late Wednesday afternoon, Ballance said that 22 permits had been sold on Ocracoke.
Yesterday, on an overcast Tuesday afternoon, a handful of anglers were on the South Point beach to do some fishing on the last official day that driving on the seashore beaches was free.
Most were resigned to the idea of the mandatory permits.
“I will get one tomorrow,” said local resident Brian Warren as he and others moved their fishing locations. “I have no choice.”
The quest Tuesday was for red drum and speckled trout, but catches were scarce.
“They’re not biting,” said Ocracoke native Thomas Midgett, who reset his line. He said he goes fishing at least 150 days of the year.
“I’m against having to pay,” he said, “but I’m gonna pay it.”
But, he noted that maybe it will be a good thing. Permits might keep away those who abuse driving privileges.
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