As used in this Section the following terms have the following meanings:

(1) "Bike Trail" means any road or trail maintained for bicycles.

(2) "Bridle Trail" means any road or trail maintained for persons riding on horseback.

(3) "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

(4) "Department" means the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

(5) "Educational State Forest" refers to any State Forest property operated by the North Carolina Forest Service for the purpose of educating schoolchildren and the public.

(6) "Emergency Aircraft" means aircraft operated by an emergency response agency.

(7) "Forest Supervisor" means an employee of the North Carolina Forest Service who is a forest supervisor and provides supervision to other North Carolina Forest Service employees of the forest.

(8) "Group" means a number of individuals related by a common factor, having structured organization, defined leadership, and activities directed by a charter or written bylaws.

(9) "Hiking Trail" means any road or trail maintained for pedestrians.

(10) "Multi-use Trail" means any road or trail maintained for use by the following: horseback riding, bicycle riding, and hiking or other foot traffic.

(11) "Hunting" means the lawful hunting of game animals as defined by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission.

(12) "Motorized vehicle" means any vehicle which is self-propelled, or which is pulled by a self-propelled vehicle, such as a camping trailer, fifth-wheel travel trailer, motor home, travel trailer, and truck camper. A self-propelled vehicle shall include passenger automobiles, mopeds, off-road vehicles (ORV), golf carts, motorcycles, mini-bikes, all-terrain vehicles, 2 or 3 wheeled personal transporters, battery assisted bicycles (E-Bikes), and go-carts. "Motorized vehicle" does not include accommodations made in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Chapter 168A of the North Carolina General Statutes.

(13) "Registered Motor Vehicle" is any vehicle that has been legally registered and tagged from a state department of motor vehicles or department of transportation.

(14) "Permit" means any written license issued by or under the authority of the North Carolina Forest Service or Department permitting the performance of a specified act or acts.

(15) "Permittee" means any person, corporation, company, or association in possession of a valid permit.

(16) "Person" means any individual, firm, partnership, corporation, company, association, public or private institution, political subdivision, or government agency.

(17) "Public building" means a climate-controlled structure primarily for human habitation or use, and does not include barns, shelters, or sheds.

(18) "Public nudity" means a person's intentional failure to cover with an opaque covering the person's genitals, pubic area, anal area, or areola on female breasts except for breastfeeding while in a public place.

(19) "State Recreational Forest" is a State Forest designation that refers to any State Forest property operated by the North Carolina Forest Service primarily for natural resource preservation, scenic enjoyment and recreational purposes, while also managing for the purposes of education, demonstration, training, forest research, wildlife habitat, and forest products, including the DuPont State Forest.

(20) "Rock climbing" means traversing a rock face that is steep enough to require the use of hands and feet to get up or down.

(21) "State Forest" means any land owned by the State of North Carolina, under the jurisdiction of the North Carolina Forest Service, that is managed for the purposes of education, demonstration, training, forest research, wildlife habitat, forest products and recreation.

History Note: Authority G.S. 106-22; 106-877; 106-887; 143-116.8;

Eff. November 1, 2009;

Transferred from 15A NCAC 09C .1229 Eff. May 1, 2012;

Pursuant to G.S. 150B-21.3A, rule is necessary without substantive public interest Eff. September 19, 2015;

Amended Eff. September 1, 2021.