Collecting info on states where ATVs are steet legal

[PDX1953]

I'm attempting to complile a list of states that allow ATVs/UTVs to be driven on the street. Please send me links to your state DMV requirement sites, costs (licenses, taxes, etc) and if they're only allowed in certain towns in your state I'd appreciate knowing that as well.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Al

[Grizz450]

Here certain places allow riding ATVs on streets to get to trails, gas, stores, ect. It's not everywhere, just certain places. Freakiest thing ever is when you pass a cop on the street and they just keep driving.

[Hill Farm]

For the most part Arkansas is a no. Exeptions for farming and maybe hunting, but just a going from one field to another kind of deal. Then again, we have miles and miles of gravel roads that I have never seen a deputy on.

[boaty]

I found the following excerpt in a report compiled by the Wisconsin DOT in 2005 it may be outdated by now, but it is all I could find. Hope this helps you out. Anyway, here is a link to the full report: http://on.dot.wi.gov/wisdotresearch/...tsratvlaws.pdf

Summary
State Laws and Regulations
Eight states—Arizona, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota—allow the public to operate at least some classes of ATVs on some roadways with varying levels of restrictions (for example, states may require a certain engine size, vehicle length or weight, and presence of headlights or taillights; and may require that the operator wear a helmet). Five additional states (Alaska, Missouri, Nevada, Oklahoma and West Virginia) allow more limited travel, such as when a highway is impassable by automobiles due to snow, or on single-lane roadways. Virtually every state allows local municipalities to authorize use of ATVs on local rights-of-way, which may include pavements, shoulders, ditches, and slopes of highways and ditches.
Of the eight states that allow the most ATV travel on roadways:
•
Two states (Minnesota and North Dakota) require that ATV operators be a minimum of 16 years old, or in certain circumstances 12 years old; Minnesota also allows 10-year-olds in certain areas. A third, Indiana, requires operators on public lands to be 14, unless supervised. The other five states have no minimum age requirement.
•
Two states require operators of a certain age to earn certification in a safety course; Minnesota requires it for ages 12 to 15, and North Dakota for ages 15 and under. Arizona recommends it for all riders, and offers classes for ages 5 and up.
•
Four states require ATVs to be titled with a transportation or motor vehicles agency. Four require registration with motor vehicles agencies, and one with the state parks and recreation department.
Across the United States, only a few states restrict the use of ATVs to certain hours of the day, possibly because headlights and taillights have become standard equipment on ATVs. States that require certain equipment on ATVs
for use on highways or rights-of-way, or when crossing roadways, include lighting in the requirements. We did not identify any states that restrict use to certain months of the year.

[TripleR]

Missouri Section 304-013 All-terrain vehicles, prohibited on hig

Legal in municipalities and counties that issue permits, illegal otherwise unless used for agriculture or by disabled over short distances. The rules are the same for ATV/UTV/RUV.

[mrycar]

Michigan PA240 permits usage on county roads. Counties above a certain meridian North of Bay City are permitted to open their roads. Each road is opened on a county by county basis, and may be closed by ordinances.

[PDX1953]

ARGHHHH! I just spent 30 mins typing a response & when I went to download the spell checker it erased everything. Guess from now on I'll write it in Word & then cut/paste. - Think I'll go outside & play now instead - LOL!

[blum]

Washington has some limited areas where the counties have passed ord. that allow riding on county roads. I spend a lot of time in Missoula Montana and I see atvs all the time running around the streets. Dont know the laws but I know they do it.

[desertdweller]

ARIZONA you license you ride, no HIGHWAYS!

[trails2004]

Add Wyoming to the list of states that you can operate on a roadway with a special license plate or a user fee decal on enrolled roadways-regardless of the type of registration an operators permits is required.

Wyoming Trails - ORV General Rules & Regulations

[officer641]

<TABLE id=table1 border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR><TD></TD><TD><TABLE id=table4 border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top width="100%">Here is the rules for Texas.


All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) are regulated by state and federal laws.
A vehicle is classified as an ATV if it:

• has a saddle seat,
• has three or more wheels,
• is designed for off-highway use, and
• is not designed by the manufacturer for farm or lawn care.

ATVs may not be driven on public roads unless the driver is:

• a farmer or a rancher traveling no more than 25 miles,
• a public utility worker, or
• a law enforcement officer.
• (thats me)

ATVs driven on a public road must have a triangular orange flag on top of an eight-foot pole attached to the back of it.
To be operated on public property, ATVs must have:

• a brake system,
• a muffler system,
• a United States Forest Service qualified spark arrester,
• head and tail light, and
• an Off Highway Vehicle decal issued by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

For further details on ATV operation on public land in Texas, visit the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Off Highway Vehicle Program or call (512) 389-8917.

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["OLYMPIC VIEW"]

Originally Posted by blum

Washington has some limited areas where the counties have passed ord. that allow riding on county roads. I spend a lot of time in Missoula Montana and I see atvs all the time running around the streets. Dont know the laws but I know they do it.

What counties in WA...? Never heard of that...In Montana it is legal, must have the streetlegal kit which includes horn and turn signals/flashers or in lieu of that you evidently must use visible arm/hand signals to indicate direction of turns/lane changes...?? I was in Butte en route to Bozeman when I passed several utility quads running down I-90 doing 60 + MPH on the interstate with no hard hats on...How do these states with no helmet law get any federal highway funding??? Two sides/opinions to all helmet law arguments... Here's link to kit... http://www.montanajacks.com/index.as...on=Custom&ID=1

[HeavyD]

State regulations on use of OHVs on public roadways, motorcycle, ATV and four-wheel drive recreation
This link outlines some of the generals for the U.S.
New OHV Legislation
This is the "law" in Idaho about atv usage.
I get a kick out of it. You can buy an off road sticker, and you are legal to ride trails. Or, you buy a restricted plate and sticker and can ride on trails, or any county or city maintained road UNLESS that particular road is restricted for atv use AND you have a mirror, horn, proof of insurance, etc. Ask any police officer around here about operating on a city or county road and they will say no. I know if I take off down the city street I would be issued a ticket, despite the fact that I was forced to buy the plate (wasn't given an option) AND live in the "restricted zone", which seems to be the entire state.

[tundrwd]

Laws in Kansas:

1994-102 | 8/17/1994 | Kansas Attorney General Opinion

http://www.atvsafety.gov/legislation/KansasLaw.pdf

Kansas Department of Health and Environment - News Release

Basically:

"K.S.A. 8-128(a)(7) establishes an absolute ban upon the operation of all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) on federal and state highways, including any right of way. ATVs may be operated on public streets and alley ways of second or third class cities during daylight hours and during evening hours if equipped with lights as required for motorcycles. Also, ATVs may be operated on county and township roads pursuant to the same daylight restrictions. Pursuant to K.S.A. 1993 Supp. 8-235(a), an ATV may be operated only by a person with a valid driver's license."

Registration - no real registration, and not required to register/title the ATV (confirmed multiple times by talking to 3 different counties tag offices). I've run into several web sites that indicate registration is required for ATVs, but again, talking to several county tag offices, dealers, etc., it is apparently not required. Urged, but apparently not required.

Hope that helps.

[PDX1953]

I worked with my State Representative last Fall & Winter to draft legislation to make ATVs/UTVs street legal in CT. We pitched it as a revenue source because all the states are broke but when it was introduced in the Feb. legislative session the DOT chucked it out the window & didn't even want to discuss it. It was DOA from the get-go. I guess CT must have so much money they'd rather I go to NY, Mass, Vermont, New Hampshire, or Maine to spend $300 - $500 for a weekend of riding.