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BUENA VISTA TOWNSHIP - Addressing recent requests from the local governing body, troopers from the State Police's Buena Vista barracks have stepped up patrols of hotspots for illegally riding all-terrain vehicles throughout the area.

Calling it a process of education, Station Commander Lt. Joseph Shanahan informed township Mayor Chuck Chiarello that troopers are conducting ATV-specific enforcement details across the township.

Shanahan said the goal is not to write tickets - although that can happen - but to inform riders that they are breaking the law even by riding in places that may seem remote. Trails and sandpits in the township are attractive to riders but are often private property or part of nature preserves, he said.

On July 25, the Buena Vista Township Committee approved a resolution encouraging state legislators to pass laws requiring ATV riders to register their vehicles. Chiarello said the township already has such laws on the books, and that state laws would help with enforcement.

Over the weekend, troopers visited well-known ATV trails and pits and distributed copies of the township's laws as well as additional literature on illegal riding. While most riders were given warnings, Shanahan said six citations were written up over the two days.

"The troopers have discretion," Shanahan said about giving tickets. "(The six) weren't fully cooperative. They may have been a little evasive with their answers and may not have immediately responded to the troopers."

Shanahan said he knows it's frustrating for enthusiasts, who have no public trails on which to ride. The pits and trails make the township a good place to ride. Some of the riders were local, he said, while others came with trailers from out of town. Shanahan said the township has shown up on ATV blogs as a great place to ride in southern New Jersey.

Enforcement is not solely based on the township's pressure. Shanahan said there have been calls from residents concerning loud noise, trespassing and property damage from ATVs.

For the most part, he said, riders are not looking to cause trouble. That's why troopers are willing to give them a warning, at least the first time.

"We tell them we're sorry," Shanahan said simply. "And we're not in the business of saying sorry. But we kind of understand where they're coming from.

"Our main thrust was to educate people, let them know that they are riding on private property. We're just getting the word out."

ATV riders are generally understanding about the situation. Those who are not - like the six this past weekend - walk away with tickets.

While not providing specific dates, Shanahan said troopers plan more ATV details throughout the summer and fall.

E-mail Edward Van Embden:

eVanEmbden@pressofac.com

12 comments:

• mikek250f (2) posts 9:00 am

  Illegal riding has been an issue in NJ for a very long time, it is not something that has cropped up over night. Open land is becoming more and more scarce due to overpopulation and building in most areas of the state. The riders are not being treated as equals, we are seen as criminals and outlaws for doing what we love in life. Instead of focusing on the plans to make legal riding areas for us to use and enjoy which would cut down on illegal riding most articles are too busy talking about the destruction and environmental issues around offroad vehicle use. I have personally been riding off road for well over 25 years and in recent times started going out of state more and more, spending money at places where riders feel welcomed. Where are the parks we were promised back in 2006? Why was the NJORVP site closed and then destroyed by cutting down countless trees? Give riders some legal options in NJ and you will get support from a very tight knit community willing to spend their hard earned cash on something they love close to home.

• mikek250f (2) posts 8:59 am

  Illegal riding has been an issue in NJ for a very long time, it is not something that has cropped up over night. Open land is becoming more and more scarce due to overpopulation and building in most areas of the state. The riders are not being treated as equals, we are seen as criminals and outlaws for doing what we love in life. Instead of focusing on the plans to make legal riding areas for us to use and enjoy which would cut down on illegal riding most articles are too busy talking about the destruction and environmental issues around offroad vehicle use. I have personally been riding off road for well over 25 years and in recent times started going out of state more and more, spending money at places where riders feel welcomed. Where are the parks we were promised back in 2006? Why was the NJORVP site closed and then destroyed by cutting down countless trees? Give riders some legal options in NJ and you will get support from a very tight knit community willing to spend their hard earned cash on something they love close to home.

• cincrft1 (31) posts 8:28 am

  Well, lets keep the faith that on Aug 12th that the zoning board in Little Egg Harbor meeting will go well for the proposed park. It you can, come on out and support us @ 7 pm. There is power in numbers.......

• quadracer85st (6) posts 9:22 pm

  sorry for all the same posts everyone, something must be wrong with my computer.

• quadracer85st (6) posts 9:06 pm

  "On July 25, the Buena Vista Township Committee approved a resolution encouraging state legislators to pass laws requiring ATV riders to register their vehicles. Chiarello said the township already has such laws on the books, and that state laws would help with enforcement." once again. why would we want to pay to register our atv's, if theres not even a plan in act for legal riding. i would be more than happy to pay to register my atv's if a legal riding are was provided. i would guarantee more money could be made from an atv park than from a train staion in richland. which seems to cost more money a year to maintain then you make in profiting from it. in my opinion if this bill is passed and no legal riding option was offered, it would be nothing more than a scam to take more money from the citizens. sure there is talk of it. but how about this state makes some moves toward this project instead of debating it. instead of outlawing us, get behind our cause and push for legal riding. with the growing popularity of dirt bikes,atv's and off roading, we need an atv park now. yes, this is a pine land community and the people that live here are outdoors man. we hunt,fish enjoy the outdoors and ride atv's with our familys. we are no different than a boater, hunter etc. we just want our what every other outdoors man gets. legal rights to enjoy our hobby.

• Informed (4) posts 9:05 pm

  Aren't we all supposed to be created equal? Doesn't this mean the conservationists, the soccer moms, the hikers, the bikers, and the ATVers all deserve the right to pursue their happiness? I grew up with the live and let live attitude. My father was a hunter, I am not. I ride Atv's my father does not. We still respect each other's hobbies and don't wish either would be unallowed to enjoy their hobby. Even though I am sure some ATVer has run illegally on the property my father hunts on, he does not wish to rid ATVing entirely. As well as I have seen hunters take more than their share of wildlife from our forests, but I do not wish all hunters be stopped. This is because we know as individuals we should have the right to enjoy the freedoms of hunting, riding an ATV or anyhting else we want that doesn't harm others. We both live in Southern NJ and pay an outrageous amount of taxes. This should definitely get us some sort of right to enjoy the land respectfully. Besides it being something our taxes should afford us an ATV park and proper rules could generate income for the state. Look at the Hatfield Mccoy system in WV or the many trail systems in NC or Utah. If they can figure it out why can't we? I am not claiming that all ATVers do everything right, but does anyone? If one could ruin it for the many than there would be no cars on the road, no poiliticians, no priests, nothing. It is something that needs to be rectified because there are many of us who do the right thing day in and day out and this is our way to get out and enjoy life. ATVing brings many people together with a common interest as many other hobbies do. It gives families the chance to enjoy hobbies together and beleive it or not it helps the economy. If ATV's are chased out of this state so will the dealers and the taxes, the income, the jobs, and long term the residents who can find another state with cheaper taxes and more liberal views on ATV's. At the end of the day Are thos that want the ATVs gone really doing anything positive for anyone but themselves or are they just unhappy with their own lives that they need to try to ruin someone else's lives?

• quadracer85st (6) posts 9:04 pm

  "On July 25, the Buena Vista Township Committee approved a resolution encouraging state legislators to pass laws requiring ATV riders to register their vehicles. Chiarello said the township already has such laws on the books, and that state laws would help with enforcement." once again. why would we want to pay to register our atv's, if theres not even a plan in act for legal riding. i would be more than happy to pay to register my atv's if a legal riding are was provided. i would guarantee more money could be made from an atv park than from a train staion in richland. which seems to cost more money a year to maintain then you make in profiting from it. in my opinion if this bill is passed and no legal riding option was offered, it would be nothing more than a scam to take more money from the citizens. sure there is talk of it. but how about this state makes some moves toward this project instead of debating it. instead of outlawing us, get behind our cause and push for legal riding. with the growing popularity of dirt bikes,atv's and off roading, we need an atv park now. yes, this is a pine land community and the people that live here are outdoors man. we hunt,fish enjoy the outdoors and ride atv's with our familys. we are no different than a boater, hunter etc. we just want our what every other outdoors man gets. legal rights to enjoy our hobby.

• quadracer85st (6) posts 9:03 pm

  "On July 25, the Buena Vista Township Committee approved a resolution encouraging state legislators to pass laws requiring ATV riders to register their vehicles. Chiarello said the township already has such laws on the books, and that state laws would help with enforcement." once again. why would we want to pay to register our atv's, if theres not even a plan in act for legal riding. i would be more than happy to pay to register my atv's if a legal riding are was provided. i would guarantee more money could be made from an atv park than from a train staion in richland. which seems to cost more money a year to maintain then you make in profiting from it. in my opinion if this bill is passed and no legal riding option was offered, it would be nothing more than a scam to take more money from the citizens. sure there is talk of it. but how about this state makes some moves toward this project instead of debating it. instead of outlawing us, get behind our cause and push for legal riding. with the growing popularity of dirt bikes,atv's and off roading, we need an atv park now. yes, this is a pine land community and the people that live here are outdoors man. we hunt,fish enjoy the outdoors and ride atv's with our familys. we are no different than a boater, hunter etc. we just want our what every other outdoors man gets. legal rights to enjoy our hobby.

• SnoDrtRider (7) posts 8:49 pm

  Fred Ackers is the Administrator or the Greater Egg Harbor Watershed Association http://www.gehwa.org/ He holds NO accredidation that I can find. He is simply a scammer out to get grants and payment from the government in the name of environmentalism. Take a look at the twisted facts that he uses against his targets. http://www.gehwa.org/ORV%20References.htm Be sure to download and save all the files on this page because I am sure that once he realizes the public has access to his arsenal he will block access. We have already downloaded all the documents and are going through them one by one as to be able to provide and inform the attendees at meets that Fred is at spreading his BS the proper and full document he has taken his out of context information from.

• cincrft1 (31) posts 5:51 pm

  what actually is Fred Ackers Job for the watershed department? The other thing is that does Mr. Ackers realize what problems and damage he is causing try let alone all of the wasteful spening of tax dollars....... Mr. Akers, I have said it once before - you and your group should be part of the solution instead of part of the problem.

• LouToti (33) posts 5:18 pm

  Well can't fault the State Police, they're only doing their job. The bigger issue is why did Mayor Chuck Chiarello and Buena Vista Township council put up such a fight to stop the Piney Hollow gravel pit location which the state purchased for an off-road park? For whatever the reason Mayor Chiarello rolled over for Fred Akers and his friends only creating the crisis that the state is in now. This off-road issue would have been resolved years ago had the ATV park opened. Unfortunately now the State Police and New Jersey tax payers have to pick up the cost of Mayor Chiarello and Buena Vista Townships mistake. Talk about a waste of resources.

• cincrft1 (31) posts 8:21 am

  Ok Mayor Chiarello, Has it sunk in yet that the atv riders do in fact need a place to go and ride legal? Like the old Chatsworth! The riders are under attack yet again and unless those in power see the light about needing a place to go and ride I think this is going to continue to happen. Maybe they do see that this is a problem but no one wants this park in "their" back yard. Well there is 82 million acres of land in the state of NJ and I am sure a place can be found. Can't we all get together and come to an agreement and open up a place so we will be able to have equal use of the land in NJ and enjoy our sport?

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