Officials restrict off-road vehicles
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
By Siobhan A. Counihan
scounihan@sjnewsco.com
WOOLWICH TWP. Officials adopted an ordinance Monday that would severely restrict the use of off-road recreational vehicles, a move they say was prompted by property damage and resident complaints.
State law already prohibits the use of these recreational vehicles dirt bikes, all-terrain vehicles, go-carts and snowmobiles on roads. The new ordinance further establishes that they may not be used on or within 75 feet of another person's private property or any public grounds.
Officials said they adopted the ordinance in response to an increase in complaints about people, usually teenagers, riding on private property or, in some cases, destroying crops.
"People buy their kids these four-wheelers and expect that they can ride them anywhere in town, which they can't," said Captain Donald Doak, of the Woolwich Township Police Department.
Doak said the number of complaints has increased with the area's increasing population. "People see the open ground and they think they can just go ahead and ride there, but somebody owns that property. If you hit these farmers, you're destroying their livelihood."
Anyone who violates the ordinance runs the risk of having their recreational vehicle impounded and could face up to $1,000 in municipal court fines in addition to any costs associated with impoundment. Additionally, the ordinance specifies that if someone under the age of 18 violates the ordinance, the parents will be held responsible.
"We get complaints of kids driving all over the township and going on people's private property," said township administrator Jack Lipsett. "I guess their parents give them a gift and, since they're kids, sometimes they don't respect other people's property. Or, they just do what they want to do."
The ordinance also requires that anybody riding a recreational vehicle wear a helmet and prohibits riding anytime before 9 a.m. or after 8 p.m. or sunset.
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