LACEY TOWNSHIP, NJ – In response to a rise in hazardous conditions and public safety concerns, the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office, in collaboration with Lacey and Ocean Township police departments, will conduct a special off-road vehicle enforcement operation this weekend. The effort aims to address the illegal use of all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and dirt bikes on protected lands.
Sheriff Michael G. Mastronardy emphasized the increasing issues caused by unauthorized vehicle use in the county’s open spaces, which include state, county, municipal, and private properties. “Use of all-terrain vehicles and other vehicles like dirt bikes are restricted from use on these lands without written consent from the owner,” Mastronardy stated. He highlighted the dual risks of environmental damage and personal injury that these activities pose, which also complicate rescue and emergency operations in wooded areas.
Recent concerns voiced by Chief Christopher Kenny of the Lacey Township Police Department and Chief Michael Rogalski of the Ocean Township Police Department have underscored the urgency of stricter enforcement. Both townships are known for their extensive natural reserves, including the Forked River Mountains, preserved under Ocean County’s Natural Lands Trust Fund program.
Ocean County Commissioner Virginia E. Haines, liaison to the county’s open space program, called for public cooperation. “We are urging residents and visitors to obey the rules and stay off the preserved and protected properties,” Haines said. The properties are clearly posted to deter trespassing and ensure their protection.
The coordinated enforcement detail will focus on the areas between Lacey and Wells Mills roads, seeking to curb the illegal use of off-road vehicles and protect both the natural environment and community safety.