The Vernon Township Council is considering putting a police officer on an all-terrain quad vehicle so illegal riders can be apprehended.

Police will give a presentation on Thursday about the riders who illegally ride ATVs on the the municipal-owned Maple Grange property. The meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. at the municipal building on Church Street.

The council has not made a decision about what action to take, said Councilman Phil Weiler.

"We are waiting to hear this presentation," he said. "I think once we hear that, we'll put our heads together to come up with a solution to prevent more destruction to the property."

Vernon purchased the 183-acre Maple Grange tract in 2000. The park is closed to the public, but for more than a year, ATVs have damaged the terrain at the park, which includes a historic site, according to Vernon resident Jessica Paladini.

Residents say the ATVs are noisy, dangerous, damaging and that riders have been seen operating their vehicles in an unsafe manner. Riders say Vernon should provide an area for them to legally ride their ATVs.

Highland Lakes resident James Cook will talk to the council on Thursday about why Vernon should create a park so people can legally ride their ATVs.

"Not all ATV riders are criminals," he said. He also wonders why the township objects to riders using the Maple Grange park, which may be developed as recreational fields.

"They're complaining about leaving ruts on the trails but it's just dirt," said Cook. "It doesn't matter. The township will excavate the entire site when they go to build their baseball fields."

His friend, Michael Lohwin, 36, also of Vernon, said the township should provide a riding area for the vehicles, with a nearby area to park cars. Lohwin rides his Kawasaki Lakota ATV about once a month. The auto mechanic has three children, two of whom are learning to ride an ATV, he said.

"If they provided an area to ride, it will prevent the hassle of riding in the streets and going where we should not go," he said. Lohwin said he and Cook rode once at Maple Grange earlier this year.

Paul Lankau, who lives in the Storm Estates section of Vernon, said the state should permit the riders on property that is away from residential areas. "You invest money (in the vehicles) but there's no place to ride," he said.
For more than a year, Lankau says, he has dealt with the noise of ATVs when they ride through in his cul-de-sac neighborhood. Riders access Maple Grange park, located on Maple Grange Road, from the Storm Estates development and leave deep ruts in park pathways, he said.

He called police last week to report riders were doing "wheelies" on his street- West Gate Drive. It was about 8 p.m. and the riders wore no helmets even though they were doing tricks with their vehicles, he said.

Lankau's property in the upscale neighborhood has not been damaged by the vehicles but he still objects to their presence. He is worried a child could be hurt by an irresponsible ATV driver.

Police have issued summons and warnings to impound off-road vehicles because the vehicles are not allowed on public property. If caught riding illegally, riders could be charged with a $100 fine for a first offense and $250 for a second offense, according to a 20-year-old township ordinance.

The township is also considering installing more locked gates to block entryways to the park.

Cook, 34, wants Vernon to make (other) property accessible to him and other riders. He's even willing to pay a fee so he can ride his Yamaha.

Vernon is not the only county municipality to have suffered damage on its public property due to all-terrain vehicles.
In Wantage, riders damaged recreational fields in Woodbourne Park two years ago. The township has an ordinance which prohibits riding in the park or on private property.

Wantage still has sporadic episodes of unauthorized off-road vehicle use in its parks, but the damage has been minimal, said Township Administrator Jim Doherty last week.

Wantage has installed perimeter fencing along the back and outer boundaries of the park, which so far has cut down on the problem in Woodbourne. "Now that the summer months are upon us, we will see if there is any change in the situation," he said.

The state Department of Environmental Protection also has regulations prohibiting ATVs in its state parks.
Since August 2003, the DEP issued 257 summons statewide for illegal riding on state property, said Elaine Makatura, DEP spokeswoman, on Friday.

A total of 45 vehicles were impounded and 26 individuals were arrested, said Makatura.

The state also supports the safe and proper use of the vehicles in designated areas. DEP Commissioner Bradley M. Campbell has also directed the department to look for sites to be used as off-road vehicle parks.

No action has been taken on purchasing the land. "The state is still working on identifying property," said Makatura.