Group sues over new beach driving rules

BUXTON, N.C. (AP) - An Outer Banks community group has filed a federal lawsuit challenging new regulations that govern beach driving at the Cape Hatteras National Seashore.

The Cape Hatteras Access Preservation Alliance sued Thursday, asking a judge to block new regulations on where people can drive and which require them to buy permits for off-road vehicles.

The regulations were adopted last month as part of a National Park Service agreement to protect endangered turtles and rare shorebirds in the area.

The lawsuit says there's no evidence that off-road vehicles have caused significant harm to those animal populations.

John Couch of the Outer Banks Preservation Association says the rules will badly damage the local culture and economy.

A call to the park service was not immediately returned early Friday.