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HAMMONTON - Off-road vehicle riders could soon face tougher restrictions on how they operate the vehicles on their own properties.

The Town Council is expected to introduce an ordinance at its Aug. 24 meeting that will amend an existing ordinance regulating the operation of off-road vehicles - such as ATVs, go-carts, and dirt bikes - to decrease the impact these vehicles have on neighboring properties.

The ordinance is the product of two years of work by an ad hoc committee to address a problem that many town residents reported with their neighbors' use of off-road vehicles.

"We've had enough different people from enough different parts of town come to us about this that we felt it was time that we addressed it," town Solicitor Brian Howell said.

The new ordinance likely would prevent off-road vehicles from being operated on any lot that is less than two acres. For every two acres of land exceeding that minimum, one additional user would be permitted. The maximum number of off-road vehicles that could be operated on any single lot at one time would be three.

There could be a loophole, however, that would allow property owners to increase the number of vehicles that can be driven on their lot if they agree to build a six-foot high fence and plant 12-foot-high coniferous trees.

Other potential new rules include the prohibition of alcoholic beverages at any location where off-road vehicles are in operation, requiring anyone under the age of 16 to be accompanied by an adult when riding an off-road vehicle, and requiring all off-road vehicles to be equipped with a factory-installed muffler or its equivalent and a federally approved spark arrester.

Riders also will likely be confined to operating their vehicles more than 150 feet from an adjoining residence and between the hours of 9 a.m. and 7 p.m.

"The purpose of this ordinance is to protect the adjoining homeowner," said Councilman Jerry Barberio, who sits on the ad hoc committee.

Violating these rules could result in a written warning for the first offense, a $250 to $1,000 fine and court costs for the second offense, and a $1,500 fine plus court costs and imprisonment of as long as 90 days for the third offense and thereafter. The adult supervisors and property owners could be subject to the same penalties, and police could impound any vehicle in violation of the ordinance.

"These riders are finally going to realize that the town means business because it is doing something to address the safety issues (these vehicles) create," said Jerry Vitalo, a member of the ad hoc committee. "ATV riding is the same as hunting. Hunting requires certain qualifications, as should ATV riding. Because driving an ATV is like carrying a gun that someone could hurt themselves with or even someone else."

E-mail Robert Spahr:

RSpahr@pressofac.com

3 comments:

• lehtresident (2) posts 9:22 am

  If a town means business, they should support safe riding through education and by support of a legal place to ride, not by simply restricting the activity. This article is more evidence that South Jersey needs legal places to ride.

• LouToti (33) posts 12:50 pm

  There you go! What better reason for a community to build an off-road vehicle park than one where the activity already occurs. From the sound of things I'd have to say that very sizable percentage of Hammonton residents ride ATVs and Dirt Bikes. If the towns leaders were smart they would duplicate what the Egg Harbor PAL did and create a self funded off-road vehicle program. Hey remember these residents vote and their kids go to the Hammonton schools. I'd have to say we're all part of the same community... aren't we?

• cincrft1 (31) posts 10:47 am

  ok, here is yet another town is going to address the problems of off road vehicles. Why go through the process of coming up with a new ordinance, when what is needed is a legal place to ride. The riders realize one thing and that is that we as a group need a legal place to ride like what was at Chatsworth park that closed in Aug 2007. "driving an atv is like carring a gun that someone could get hurt" please, that is such an narrow minded comment - how many other sports that are out there where people can and do get hurt. Understand that the off road vehicle group just would like to have equal rights to the 82 million acres of land in the state of nj for a place to call their own to enjoy their sport like everyone else can. This sport is not for everyone just like hunting, fishing, skiing,boating,ext.

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