Nesquehoning is cracking down on an increase in off-roaders congregating and parking on borough roads.

On Wednesday, borough council passed an emergency resolution to post “No Parking” signs along Industrial Road in the Hauto Valley Estates portion of the borough in the hopes of deterring many who have been using the area as a parking lot to offload their off-road vehicles. The problem typically exists on weekends and in recent weeks has been getting worse.

Council President David Hawk said that the action came about because council has been receiving numerous complaints regarding the increased influx of off-road, ATV and dirt bikes coming into the area and congregating in areas close to residential properties.

“The complaints cite the noise, dust, litter, illegal operation of the vehicles on public roads and streets, violations of the borough burning ordinance and discharging of firearms within the borough; and in this time, violations of the COVID-19 restrictions on stay-at-home guidelines, interstate travel recommendations and quarantine periods, and group gatherings,” Hawk said. “The noise is not limited to the actual vehicles but the ‘party atmosphere’ conversations, music, etc., coming from the congregated groups, which all carries to be audible at the nearby residential properties.”

Most of the riding does not occur on borough property, but on private property farther up in the mountains, but Hawk said council wants to reduce the negative effects on public property closer to the residential area.

Residents have noticed an influx in the number of off-roaders visiting the portion of Nesquehoning in recent months, with dozens of trucks and cars lining Industrial Road on weekends and numerous riders utilizing Park Avenue and Industrial Road throughout the day.

Hawk said that council intends to amend its ordinance in the near future to make the no parking area along Industrial Road permanent.

In addition, Hawk said that borough police will be enforcing the no parking restrictions, as well as any illegal operation of vehicles, the borough’s ordinances and littering within the area and throughout the borough.