I hear you Courtney.  I live in Santa Monica and feel the same way!

Unfortunately, Ocean Shores has only 1 road in and out and the beach is our only other evacuation route off of Peninsula.  When there is an accident on the highway between Ocean Shores and junction, the beach is the only way for residents to get out of City.  We need another access road before the beach is closed to traffic.  To close it now would  endanger the residents of City if we all needed to evacuated quickly. 

Hi Steven and Marti!  Obviously as a part time resident myself, I agree with this and am not talking about banning emergency use of the beach.  Although, if the tsunami alarms go off, I personally will not be driving on the beach, but rather away from it to get off the peninsula.  I am talking about the routine trashing of the beach by driving on it all the time RECREATIONALLY.  We have such a special beach in OS and I hate that my children have to look both ways when walking down towards th ewater to fill up their buckets.  It is ridiculous.

It is so sad to see visitors leave their garbage and disrespecting the beach in general (driving on the clam beds, etc.)  and endangering other's lives with wreckless driving. 

There was an accident 1 mile outside the gates of City last week and it took almost an hour for us to get 1 1/2 miles down road.  Had we known how much of a wait we were in for, we would have taken the beach and been home in 5 minutes.   We are a unique community with very little street access in or out. 

Us residents do need an escape route other than our 1 road in and out and the beach is that alternate route in case of any emergency (accident, storm, fire, downed power lines.)  It is a shame but our state deems it necessary.