New PAC speaks out against Daytona Beach driving ban

VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — Volusia County residents still wanted to talk about beach driving Thursday even though a proposed partial ban was pulled from the county council’s meeting agenda at the last minute.

Controversy is still stirring beach driving advocates in Volusia County as they marched to the elections office in DeLand to form a political action committee.

“It’s the first step to bring a charter amendment to the people of Volusia County to empower themselves to take the final decision on beach driving out of the hands of politicians, and put it where it’s safe; in their own,” said Greg Gimber with Let the People Vote.

The small group has a long way to go raising money, but if the newly formed PAC draws enough support and gets what it wants, then any efforts by Volusia County leaders to remove beach driving would have to be approved by residents.

The PAC took time to express their view before the Volusia County Council, but only two council members showed up to listen.

“Bringing those hotels here will not bring us to the promised land. It hasn’t,” said one member of the PAC, who wasn’t identified.

Owners of the Old Desert Inn pulled their request of leaders to remove beach driving from behind the hotel.

Leaders wavered on their support just as the developers of the Hard Rock Hotel expressed similar interests.

It’s uncertain if both hotels will continue to pursue a ban on beach driving, but the new PAC is pushing for change before they do.

“We don’t want to tie the politicians’ hands. We want to allow them all the freedom in the world to negotiate any deals they think is best for us, but we want the people to have the final decision,” Gimbert said.

WFTV