New Jersey

Michael S. Byers

Last week’s news was dominated by the pomp and ceremony of Governor Chris Christie’s inauguration.
Less noticed was the flurry of activity by former Governor Jon Corzine in his final days in office. Following the state Legislature’s lame duck session, Corzine had about a week to turn thumbs-up or thumbs-down on dozens of bills which, by law, could not carry over to the new governor.

Brian T. Murray

There are tough new rules for people riding off-road vehicles in New Jersey.

Those caught steering their quads, snowmobiles or dirt bikes into state parks and wildlife areas face impoundment of their machines, fines of more than $1,000 for a third offense, and penalties equal to five times the cost of any damage left on trails or fields.

Jessica Beym

State officials say they haven't ruled out the idea of opening a legal, off-road vehicle park on property that New Jersey owns in Monroe Township, but land elsewhere in South Jersey is looking more viable.

Opening at least one state-run park for all-terrain vehicles, or ATVs, is on the state Department of Environmental Protection's to-do list, now that a long-discussed bill requiring it has become law.

Holly Wagner

A bill before New Jersey Gov. Jon S. Corzine calls for the state to establish three public parks for off-road vehicles, a response to state law that bars off-roading on public lands.

If approved, the bill would require riders to register their dirtbikes or all-terrain vehicles within six months and would raise the fees from $12 or $17, depending on the type of vehicle, to $50 for all types, with a $10 surcharge to establish the parks, according to the Press of Atlantic City.

Kirk Moore

TRENTON -- Gov. Jon S. Corzine signed a bill that requires registration for off-road vehicles.

But advocates for riders say they succeeded in winning a condition that the penalties in the law won't take effect before the state designates at least one public riding area.

After dawdling for years with the issue of all-terrain vehicles and dirt bikes causing destruction in the Pine Barrens and other natural areas, the Legislature finally approved a new, comprehensive bill during the lame-duck session.

The bill, which was signed Sunday, toughens registration and insurance requirements for snowmobiles, ATVs and dirt bikes, including a requirement that some type of numbered registration decal or license plate be prominently displayed. It increases registration fees and toughens penalties for riding these off-road vehicles on state-owned land such as parks, refuges and wildlife areas. It requires any rider younger than 18 to take a safety course.

Kirk Moore

The Legislature has approved a bill to require registration for off-road vehicles but advocates for riders say they succeeded in winning a condition that the penalties in the measures won't take effect before the state designates at least one public riding area.

The bill would require off-road vehicles to be registered, have license plates and be insured like automobiles, and would set greater penalties for illegal riding on public land or on private property without landowners' permission.

Edward Van Embden

New legislation awaiting approval from the governor would require owners of off-road vehicles to register their rides or face fines.

The bill was introduced in summer 2008 with the intention of curbing illegal riding and the damage legislators and environmentalists say has been done to private property and protected land.

MILLVILLE -- Two city men and a Vineland resident were arrested after a report of illegal off-road vehicle use in Southeast Millville.

Police made the arrests last Wednesday at a garage on the 100 block of North 7th Street, where officers also impounded a pair of four-wheel all-terrain vehicles and a dirt bike.