Summary
In 1995, a court case was brought to a Florida District Court in the name of the Loggerhead and Green Turtle. The plaintiffs claimed that Volusia County violated the Endangered Species Act because the county permitted vehicular access to its beaches, resulting in the “taking” of turtles. The vehicles left tire ruts, which pose a barrier to sea turtle hatchlings trying to reach the ocean. The court sided with Volusia County because the sand ruts made by vehicles were smoothed by the tide, but it made the County prepare a strategy to prevent cars from entering the “conservation zone” at night.