PLAISTOW -- Police will begin patrolling ATV trails as early as next month, thanks to equipment grants from the Department of Homeland Security and manpower grants from the state Department of Safety.

In January, the police department secured two ATV vehicles and a trailer using $18,000 in Homeland Security grant money. This month, the state awarded the town about $5,000 to pay for overtime shifts to patrol popular ATV-use areas, including the landfill, train tracks and the gas pipeline easement that runs through town from Newton to Haverhill. Town officials estimate that a few thousand dollars of damage has been done at the landfill by unlawful riders.

Last May, the town passed an ordinance prohibiting ATV users from riding on town-owned land. While police believe riders are still using town land, Police Chief Stephen C. Savage said no citations have been issued since passage of the ordinance, which is punishable by a fine of up to $1,000. "We've had no way of getting into those remote areas," Savage said. "Hence, no one has been caught."

But that may change after July 2, when six officers undergo ATV patrol training in Fremont. Savage did not know how many patrols the state grant would cover, but said he is considering paying for additional patrols from his own budget and working jointly on trails with neighboring towns such as Kingston and Newton.

Savage added that police will use their own discretion as to whether violators receive a warning or a citation. But he did not rule out issuing extreme fines for extreme violations. Town Manager John Scruton said police will also impound trucks and trailers parked near town land in cases where it is obvious the owners are off using their ATVs.

Selectman John A. Sherman supported the crackdown on ATV violations this week, saying the intent is simply to protect the land.

"We don't want to stop people from having fun," he said. "But there are people out there damaging public and private property."