LACEY, NJ — The Lacey Township Police Department said it will increase off-road vehicle enforcement throughout November 2026 in response to a rise in complaints and reported activity involving all-terrain vehicles, utility terrain vehicles, dirt bikes and other off-road vehicles.
According to the public safety announcement, the department already conducts off-road enforcement operations year-round. The stated goals are to address unlawful trespassing on private property and conservation lands, discourage unsafe riding practices and protect public safety.
The department said those efforts are coordinated with the New Jersey State Park Police, Ocean County Sheriffs Office, New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife Bureau of Law Enforcement, Ocean Township Police Department in Waretown, and Barnegat Township Police Department.
A primary area of concern is an approximately 60-square-mile wooded region west of the Garden State Parkway that spans portions of Lacey Township, Ocean Township and Barnegat Township, according to the announcement. The document states that, over the years, the area has experienced serious off-road vehicle crashes, including incidents resulting in injury and death, as well as trespassing, fires and arson, property damage and other criminal activity.
The announcement also points to what it describes as a recent trend involving large groups of riders traveling to the area from outside the region, often from considerable distances, with trailers transporting dirt bikes, ATVs and UTVs. According to the document, some groups have been using powerline corridors and other unauthorized locations throughout the western portions of those communities to unload, stage and operate their vehicles. The increased enforcement effort will specifically address those activities and associated violations, according to the announcement.
Residents and visitors are reminded in the notice to comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws when operating off-road vehicles. The announcement states that riding is prohibited on protected or preserved lands where that activity is not authorized. It also says operators must obtain written permission from private property owners before riding on their land.
The Lacey Township Police Department said in the announcement that it remains committed to working with partner agencies to protect residents, property owners, riders and the region's natural resources.
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