As a resident of the Outer Banks you will find the majority of people here are open to protecting the birds and beach driving.  Both sides have valid arguments, a compromise is needed that would balance local economic concerns and the protection of wildlife.

Right now the NPS is in the negotiating process with all interested parties involved in trying to set standards for driving on the beaches.  Yet the environmental groups have gone to court to close all the beaches until a resolution is developed.  If the judge rules agains Dare County and most likely he will then there will be no walking on certain parts of the beach and no driving on most of the beaches.  Thus all you fisherman will not be able to go to Buxton Point, Hatteras Point, Oregon Inlet point.

This is all in response to the endangered Piping Plover.  A small bird that migrates to North Carolina.  Not many migrate there but 3 to 6 birds nest there each summer.  It is the scientist belief that although the birds nest in the dunes vehicles driving on the beach scare the little critter.  Thus she leaves her nest.  I do not believe this is the reason for the decline of the bird, but actually the loss of dunes on the Atlantic front. The bird also encounters too many raccoons, snakes, and other critters that like eggs.  Yet the environmentalist are trying and believe that driving should not occur even if the bird was not around.
The Hatteras Island National Park was never designated as a Park, but it was designated as Hatteras Island Recreation Assoc.  It was a gentlemans agreement that these small fishing village people would always have the right to drive on the beach. 
Thus the short of it all -  I do not believe many of us will see driving on the beaches again.  When you get into negotiations you usually lose something and thus it will never be what it was.
Freedom - thought that was what I was fighting for during the Vietnam War.  Not so sure now.

Don’t forget about the surfers and paddlers too.  Driving on the beach isn’t my thing, but I’ve been out with the surfers at Hatteras and driving out was part of the fun.  It wouldn’t be a bad idea to limit the driving in many places.  Good post.