The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service closed Boca Chica Beach at Boca Chica State Park to ATVs and off-highway vehicles. The affected area includes the dunes, tidal flats and beaches.

Boca Chica—in Cameron County, Texas—is part of the Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge, which in turn is part of the USFWS South Texas Refuge Complex.

The ban does not affect beach access for passenger cars and trucks, though it does target specific types of recreational vehicles designed for off-highway use.

Violators will be subject to fines and forfeiture of their vehicles.