Sec.23-4-4. Bluff Point Coastal Reserve regulations

(a) This section shall be applicable to the Bluff Point Coastal Reserve, which is defined in Special Act 75-45, as amended. Sections 23-4-1 through 23-4-3 inclusive and 23-4-5 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies, to the extent they do not conflict with this section, shall also be applicable to the Bluff Point Coastal Reserve.

(b) Hours of operation.

(1) Bluff Point Coastal Reserve shall be open to the public daily from sunrise until sunset, provided that fishing shall be allowed at any time. Except as is specifically provided for in subdivision (2) of this subsection, no person shall enter Bluff Point Coastal Reserve except when it is open.

(2) The Commissioner shall close Bluff Point State Park and Bluff Point Coastal Reserve for the taking of deer pursuant to section 26-86a-11 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies. During any such closure only persons employed by the Department of Environmental Protection whose employment requires them to do so or persons with specific written authorization from the Commissioner shall be allowed to enter Bluff Point State Park or Bluff Point Coastal Reserve during the days or hours designated by the Commissioner. To effect such closure the Commissioner shall post notices or signs or shall otherwise notify the public that Bluff Point State Park and Bluff Point Coastal Reserve are closed, including the hours or days that they will remain closed.

(c) Weapons. Except for authorized law enforcement personnel or persons authorized pursuant to section 26-86a-11 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies, no person shall discharge, possess or carry any firearm, archery equipment or other weapon, including but not limited to an air rifle or sling shot within Bluff Point Coastal Reserve.

(d) Pets. Subsection (f) of section 23-4-1 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies shall apply, provided that no pets or riding animals shall be allowed into any area so posted by the Commissioner.

(e) Notices and signs. No person, other than the Commissioner, shall erect or post, or attempt to erect or post, any notice or sign in Bluff Point Coastal Reserve. The Commissioner may erect or post any sign or notice within Bluff Point Coastal Reserve consistent with Special Act 75-45, as amended.

(f) Improvements/structures and commercial restrictions.

(1) No person, other than the Commissioner, shall, temporarily or otherwise, make improvements to or erect structures on or in Bluff Point Coastal Reserve. The Commissioner may make improvements to or erect structures on or in Bluff Point Coastal Reserve consistent with Special Act 75-45, as amended.

(2) Except with the advance written authorization of the Commissioner, no person shall use Bluff Point Coastal Reserve for private financial gain or for commercial purposes. Any such authorization granted by the Commissioner shall be for the purposes specified in Special Act 75-45, as amended.

(g) Waste disposal. No person shall dispose of any waste material at Bluff Point Coastal Reserve except in a receptacle provided by the Commissioner for such purpose and provided that all such waste material was generated there as a normal incident to such person's lawful use of Bluff Point Coastal Reserve. If no receptacle is provided by the Commissioner, each person shall remove or carry out of Bluff Point Coastal Reserve all such waste material accumulated or generated there by such person during such person's use of Bluff Point Coastal Reserve. No person shall bring any waste material into Bluff Point Coastal Reserve for disposal therein.

(h) Fires. No person shall light a fire at Bluff Point Coastal Reserve.

(i) Fireworks. No person shall possess or use fireworks at Bluff Point Coastal Reserve.

(j) Use of motor vehicles and parking.

(1) Except as is specifically provided for in this subsection, no person shall use or operate any motor vehicle within, allow any motor vehicle to enter into, or park any motor vehicle within Bluff Point Coastal Reserve. Any such unauthorized vehicle within Bluff Point Coastal Reserve may be towed at the owner's expense. For purposes of this subsection, the term motor vehicle shall include any motor vehicle, motorcycle, motorized bicycle, camp trailer, camper, motor bus, mechanically driven mass conveyance, snowmobile, all-terrain vehicle, truck, trailer or tractor.

(2) Only the following persons may use or park a motor vehicle, a battery-powered conveyance as described in subparagraph (C) of this subdivision, or a horse-drawn or electric-powered conveyance within Bluff Point Coastal Reserve:

(A) Department of Environmental Protection employees using a motor vehicle within the course of their employment;

(B) Persons responding to an emergency within Bluff Point Coastal Reserve;

(C) Persons using battery-powered conveyances capable of carrying not more than two persons for use by the physically disabled or the elderly provided any such person receives advance written authorization from the Commissioner to operate or park a battery-powered conveyance within Bluff Point Coastal Reserve; or

(D) Persons using horse-drawn or electric-powered conveyances, provided any such person receives advanced written authorization from the Commissioner to operate or park such conveyance within Bluff Point Coastal Reserve.

(3) Any such motor vehicle or conveyance lawfully within Bluff Point Coastal Reserve shall only be used along established roadways therein, unless otherwise authorized by the Commissioner. Such authorization shall be consistent with Special Act 75-45, as amended.

(k) Camping. No person shall camp at Bluff Point Coastal Reserve.

(Effective October 4, 1995; Amended July 27, 2007; Amended May 3, 2010)