NJ residents report dangerous ATV activity; police ramp up enforcement

Residents of the community in Camden County are saying enough is enough to scores of riders on ATVs who've been causing mischief and mayhem. Some neighbors say they've even taken over the streets. Now police are cracking down using high-tech tools to find the disruptive riders. Action reporter Elizabeth Worthington has more from Berlin, Camden County. Berlin police say they've received quote an outrageous number of complaints about this from residents in recent weeks and they're just not going to tolerate it anymore. Police say in this most recent crackdown they charged several riders after they almost struck a group of children. That's the sound that's been waking people up in the middle of the night in this normally quiet neighborhood. It's so loud like the whole house rattles. Jess and Mike McGowan say hordes of ATV and quad riders speed through their backyard in Berlin at all hours of the day. They say the off-road vehicles have been a nuisance in the neighborhood for years. But recently it's gotten out of hand for sure. It's not just the dirt bikes or ATVs now it's the bigger larger side-by-sides more power. The McGowan sent this video from this past weekend to the Berlin Police Department. The department says it's cracking down saying in a social media post that while New Jersey state law restricts officers from chasing off-road vehicles quote we will use AI technology drones and facial recognition as well as traditional patrol techniques to follow you to where you park these machines and once caught seize them and all will be charged accordingly and a garage or shed will not help. I think our police force has a good plan of action. Most of the reports have come from two neighborhoods the Enclave and New Freedom Village a 55 and over community. Residents say they just don't want anyone to get hurt. They need to think about what it is they're doing. It's not just a fun activity it's putting a lot of people including themselves in danger and it's very disrespectful. I don't want to take fun away from anybody obviously but it has to be done in the right place. There's places I believe that they can go do this someplace else not through people's properties in the middle neighborhoods where kids are running around. If you witness any of these illegal off-road vehicles police want to hear from you. You can submit an anonymous tip online. In Berlin, Elizabeth Worthington, Channel 6 Action News.