DUE TO AN increase in hazardous conditions and growing concerns on Ocean County open space properties, the Ocean County Sheriff's Office will join with police departments in Lacey and Ocean townships in a weekend off-road enforcement detail.

"Use of all-terrain vehicles and other vehicles like dirt bikes are restricted from use on state, county, municipal and private properties without written consent from the owner," said Ocean County Sheriff Michael G. Mastronardy. "Not only are these drivers destroying natural lands but many are getting hurt in doing so.

"Getting to injured people in our wooded areas also causes hazardous conditions for our law enforcement and emergency medical services personnel responding," he noted.

Mastronardy said an increase in safety concerns in the past week have been brought to his attention by Chief Christopher Kenny of Lacey Township Police Department and Chief Michael Rogalski of the Township of Ocean Police Department.

Mastronardy noted that off-roaders have, in the past, been notified by police that they are not allowed on most open space and protected properties.

Lacey and Ocean townships are home to thousands of acres of land preserved under Ocean County's Natural Lands Trust Fund program including the Forked River Mountains.

"'We are urging residents and visitors to obey the rules and stay off the preserved and protected properties," said Ocean County Commissioner Virginia E. Haines, who is liaison to the county's open space program. "The properties are posted.

"We appreciate the efforts of the Sheriff's Department and the local police departments to help us protect not just property but also public safety," she said.

The weekend detail will be operating between Lacey and Wells Mills roads.