Blocking ATV Access To Spung's In Wharton
- Thread starter Teegate
- Start date
I encourage you to not be too pessimistic about this. It's part of a broader effort to stop the bleeding of habitat loss and is just one part of the puzzle. When they make a go-around, that can be blocked, so on and so forth. The key aspect is determination. The ATV's and dirtbikes are harder to block off, but this will stop the trucks for now. It is a tough problem, but I am sure glad to see so many people putting in time to help solve it.
I would encourage you not to be so pessimistic as well
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Off roading in sensitive areas has significantly reduced since the signs were put up, but there still is some. I carry a camera and will not hesitate to call DEP. That said, lets keep access open and work on the problem.
Well said Ed! At this point it is important for all of us to call when we see someone riding in wetlands where they should not be. If not, there will be road closures and most of us here are against that.
Some things are better left unsaid. A lot of work went into the planning and execution of those barriers.
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It's still way better then piles of sticks
As of the last time I went by Jemima it looked like the barricades there were serving their purpose. Just say'in.
Then find a way to keep people from going into wetlands. We all must remember it is this or the alternative. I for one won't accept the alternative.
This effort is just good common sense, it needs to be paired with a serious change to the punishment part for those that ignore it. Serious fines, no first offense charges, just confiscate the vehicle, sell it at a state auction and use the monies garnered for restorative efforts for damage done. Advertise the punishment to the max. Fines mean nothing to someone that has spent thousands on a vehicle.
With my luck, on the first day of a "Wharton ATV Sting", I'll take a go-around on Fireline Rd and the Po-Po Dragnet will surround me. They'll auction my scratched to heck SUV and sentence me to 200 hours of volunteer work for the PPA.
I don't think you'd get a judge to go along with that, but you could try by filing a criminal complaint on someone you witness.
Can't they be charged with destruction of wetlands and ,or endangered species habitat depending on the area.
I imagine they can be charged with anything, but according to the link, they can only be fined $74 for whatever the violation is. It is dated 2004, I would hope there is a more recent update, but I couldn't find it.
www.judiciary.state.nj.us/mcs/svbs_9-04/part2-d.pdf
It's a good press release and worth reading. I noticed njpinebarens.com got mentioned - good for you guys. (I also see they use the term "ecologically sensitive intermittent ponds" rather than that word I can't find anywhere else...)