This chapter shall be known as the "Vehicles on the Beach Local Law
of the Town of Shelter Island."
This chapter is adopted pursuant to the authority of the Municipal Home
Rule Law.
The Town Board of the Town of Shelter Island hereby determines that
it is in the public interest to regulate the operation of vehicles on the
beaches owned and/or operated by the Town of Shelter Island for the purposes
of preserving and protecting the rights of residents and visitors using these
beaches; protecting the beaches from erosion and damage to vegetation; and
protection of the nesting and feeding grounds of federally protected shore
birds. However, this chapter is not intended to impede the normal use of Town
landings.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
OFF-ROAD VEHICLE
Motorcycle, moped, dirt bike, dune buggy, snowmobile, all-terrain
vehicle, Hovercraft or similar type vehicle.
PARK
Any premises or area, including Town landings, owned by the Town
of Shelter Island and/or managed by it or its licensees for recreation or
open space purposes. Specifically included in this definition are the premises
located immediately to the south of Menhaden Lane which are owned in part
by Suffolk County and in part by the town.
PUBLIC BEACHES
Beaches owned and/or managed by the Town of Shelter Island. Included
within this definition are Crescent Beach, Wade's Beach and Shell Beach,
although it should be noted that only Crescent Beach and Wade's Beach
are actively managed by the Town as bathing beaches. Also included are all
premises below the mean high-water mark or lying under the water controlled
by the Town of Shelter Island. Parcels above the mean high-water mark which
are not specifically described herein are private property and are subject
to trespassing regulations.
RESIDENT
All domiciliaries, owners of real property and lessees of real property
situate in the Town of Shelter Island, including members of their immediate
families, i.e., grandparent, parent, child, sibling. Also included are registered
guests of hotels, inns, motels, guest cottages, rooming houses and camps situate
in the Town of Shelter Island.
VEHICLE
Any self-propelled transportation device mounted on tracks, treads
or wheels or any number or combination thereof, other than an off-road vehicle
as defined herein.
No person shall operate an off-road vehicle at any time on the public
beaches or parks in the Town of Shelter Island, except on a road or in a parking
area established within said public beaches or parks for the use of motor
vehicles.
If any part of this chapter shall be adjudged invalid or held unconstitutional
by any court of competent jurisdiction, any judgment made thereby shall not
affect the validity of this chapter as a whole or any part thereof other than
the part so adjudged to be invalid or unconstitutional.
This chapter shall take effect immediately upon filing with the Secretary
of State.