ATKINSON -- Selectmen have adopted a six-month stoppage on the use of all-terrain or off-highway recreational vehicles on town-owned land and conservation land.

Last night's public hearing was scheduled after both town administrator Vic Richards and various selectmen got numerous complaints from residents about the destruction of land and noise caused from the vehicles. In six months the town will hold another public hearing to discuss establishing permanent regulations and a town ordinance before next spring.

During the public hearing last night, Conservation Commission Chairman Scott Kukshtel recommended the six-month moratorium because of the ongoing damage caused by ATVs, dirt bikes and motorized vehicles.

"It is a safety hazard and they are destroying habitats and natural groundwater supplies," Kukshtel said. "Most important, the riders are in violation of New Hampshire state law, they can't operate (ride) on private land."

Kukshtel said it is important to stop the destruction before the summer months begin, since the land primary use is supposed to be for passive and wildlife recreation.

State law requires written permission from a landowner to operate motorized vehicles on private property, and children under the age of 17 have to be with a parent or a licensed driver. There is also a $2,000 fine for riding a motorized vehicle on wetlands.

Now, if a person is riding an ATV on town-owned, conservation or private land, they could charged with criminal trespassing.

Police Chief Philip V. Consentino, who is also a selectman, said dealing with the ATVs is becoming a problem and that the riders have no respect for landowners. He added that motorized vehicles have also damaged town baseball fields.

He said the riders are not allowed on property without the owners' permission and the "town has never given persons permission to ride on town property." But he said the bottom line is he doesn't believe the town wants "town and conservation land torn up."

John Kiley of 7 Sawyer Road said ATVs are damaging a "prime piece of property that people enjoy," 60 acres of conservation land near Sawyer Road.

"It is a nuisance," Kiley said. "And they have destroyed other towns and people are getting killed on them."

Conservation Commission member Tim Dziechowski said the conservation land behind Sawyer has knee deep canals, damage caused by "repeated abuse" from the ATVs. He added the conservation land of Pine Knoll Road also has damaged land.

But, Selectmen Charwoman Barbara Stewart said she is not against the sport and wants to get everyone involved to work on a solution to the ATV problem in town. "I hope the conservation commission will keep their eyes open because people take this sport seriously."

And town Road Agent Edward A. Stewart said he hopes the town and ATV riders can reach a compromise, "to protect wetland and to keep land open to the public."