N.J. city makes it illegal for gas stations to fuel ATVs and dirt bikes that drive up to the pump

Some New Jersey cities are trying to gain control of illegal dirt bike and ATV riding by making it illegal for gas stations to fuel the vehicles. Staff-Shot

In an effort to crack down on speeding dirt bikes and all-terrain vehicles riding recklessly on local streets, Atlantic City's five gas stations will no longer allow the vehicles to pull up to the pump to get gas.

In a 7-2 vote, the Atlantic City Council passed an ordinance last week that makes it illegal for gas stations to provide fuel to ATVs and dirt bikes that are driven into the station. Instead, ATVs and dirt bikes must be secured in a trailer or the back of a truck if their owners want to have the tanks filled.

The city council also made it illegal for owners of Atlantic City self-storage facilities to allow ATVs or dirt bikes to be housed on their property.

Atlantic City joins a growing number of cities — including Trenton, Jersey City and Philadelphia — that are trying to keep ATVs and dirt bikes off city streets amid complaints and accidents involving the vehicles.

Nearby, Pleasantville and Absecon in Atlantic County also introduced ordinances over the summer to limit ATVs and dirt bikes and keep them from driving into gas stations for fuel.

Atlantic City gas stations owners and employees will be be fined no less than $500 for supplying fuel to illegally driven ATVs and dirt bikes, according to the new ordinance. Self-storage facility owners can be fined the same amount if they fail to evict the vehicles from their property.

"The purpose of this ordinance is to really be a partnership between us and the gas stations," said Atlantic City Police Chief James Sarkos. "I think everyone realizes that these ATVs and motorcycles are causing a very dangerous situation on the roadways."

This measure follows a June 22 ordinance that made it illegal for ATVs and dirt bikes to be driven on roads in Atlantic City, giving officials the right to seize and destroy them when caught. Officials said the vehicles have been linked to accidents and were being driven at dangerous speeds, posing safety concerns for the public.

When an illegally driven ATV or dirt bike pulls up to one of the city's gas stations, the gas station should deny the driver service and point to a sign that says: "By order of the Atlantic City Police Department, we are not allowed to fuel illegal ATVs and motorcycles being driven on the roadways," according to city officials.

All gas stations in Atlantic City expressed their verbal and written support of the law after a police sergeant visited and presented the ordinance to them, Sarkos said.

In May 2020, the Trenton City Council unanimously passed an ordinance, prohibiting ATVs and dirt bikes from being driven on city owned and operated streets. Philadelphia passed a similar law in June 2021. Jersey City did the same just this month.

There are two exceptions to the Atlantic City gas ordinance. In the first, gas station attendants are allowed to pump gas into ATVs or dirt bikes if they fear they’ll be harmed if they don't, officials said. But the gas station must alert police within one hour of the incident.

That exception was put in the ordinance to help ensure the safety of gas station attendants, a concern that was shared among the council members.

The second exception allows ATVs and dirt bikes to get gas in Atlantic City if they’re driven to gas stations on a properly registered trailer or truck.

Sarkos hopes additional municipalities in South Jersey will adopt their own measures to help limit ATVs and dirt bikes, so owners don't just drive to a neighboring town to get gas.

"We think this is going to make it a little bit more inconvenient for those who are utilizing our roadways with these illegal vehicles," said Sarkos.

"If everyone else on board follows this ordinance — and when I say everyone I mean all the neighboring municipalities in South Jersey — then it’ll be very difficult for them to traverse from city to city without having to stop somewhere to get gas," he added.

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Nyah Marshall may be reached at [email protected]

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