ATVs, Dirt Bikes Are Becoming A Menace In Belleville, Mayor Says

BELLEVILLE, NJ — Belleville officials are calling on state officials to relax directives that ban police from engaging in vehicular pursuits, except in rare instances. And a video that recently captured dozens of ATV and motorbike riders roaring down Washington Avenue is a good example of why, according to Mayor Michael Melham.

The mayor’s office issued a statement about the situation on Wednesday.

“Specifically, the relaxation of directives adopted in 2020 and slightly revised later would assist Belleville police in cracking down on a surge of illegal all-terrain vehicle (ATVs) and motorbike riders who are joyriding on public roads,” township officials said.

The groups have often included dozens of riders, and they “pose a threat to themselves and law-abiding motorists, pedestrians and cyclists,” officials added.

“They seem to especially enjoy taunting local police officers who are limited by directives to deal with these bad actors and do their stated job: keeping residents safe,” Melham said.

State law already bans ATVs and dirt bikes from public roads. But towns and cities are able to roll out additional regulations within their borders.

On Tuesday, the Belleville Town Council passed a resolution that calls for tougher penalties on ATV and motorbike riders who flaunt the law and create a “public nuisance.” Read the full resolution here.

The resolution also criticizes a state policy that the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office rolled out in 2020, which was revised in 2022 to allow for pursuits in rare cases.

• See Related: As NJ Car Thefts Surge, State Revises Policy To Allow Police Pursuit

According to the resolution, police officers, local police departments and municipalities can be held liable if the driver being pursued is injured or causes an accident – something that allegedly handcuffs law enforcement.

Belleville isn’t the only Essex County municipality to take action on illegal ATVs and motorbikes.

The town’s neighbor city of Newark recently passed a law that allows local police to destroy ATVs or dirt bikes that they’ve seized for illegal activity. The city’s ordinance also bans gas stations from dispensing gasoline to the vehicles if they’re not properly towed.

• See Related: Newark Can Destroy Seized ATVs, Dirt Bikes Under New Ordinance

Melham said Belleville officials are also working on introducing a similar ordinance, but he added that he doesn’t think that it can go far enough to stop the rise in illegal ATV and motorbike use.

“There’s only one thing that will help keep our roadways safe from these brazen bad actors, and that’s restoring the police’s ability to pursue and arrest them,” Melham said.

“If dangerous ATVs and dirt bikes were roaring by the governor’s mansion in Middletown, day and night, you can bet this would be a top issue for the attorney general, rather than directing our police departments to just blindly stand down,” Melham added. “So, because the ongoing issue in Belleville – along with many other suburban and urban communities – I must ask Governor Murphy: What’s the difference?”

• See Related: Belleville Mayor: NJ Budget Doesn't Include Key Tax Provision (Op-Ed)

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