Are you looking to explore the great outdoors on an all-terrain vehicle (ATV)? Before you hit the trails, it's important to understand the laws and regulations surrounding ATV use. An ATV is any self-propelled vehicle, including an off-road motorcycle, that is manufactured for use on off-road trails or in off-road competitions. These vehicles cannot be more than 70 inches wide and cannot weigh more than 1,000 pounds. In order to operate an ATV legally, you must meet certain requirements and obtain the necessary permits. In most states, you must have liability insurance coverage issued by an authorized insurance company in order to register your ATV.
You can operate an off-road vehicle on any unpaved public land, trail, road, or county road, unless prohibited by the government entity. However, it is illegal to drive an ATV on private property without permission. Similarly, it is not allowed to drive an ATV on public property unless the government agency responsible for the property has approved its use. Recreational vehicles must be equipped with brakes capable of controlling them under normal operating conditions. Minors must be 12 years or older and accompanied by a parent or legal guardian who holds a valid driver's license.
Off-road motor vehicles that have received a validation sticker or a non-resident permit can drive next to a road under certain conditions. No person under 18 years of age may operate a recreational vehicle unless they have successfully completed a recreational vehicle safety and liability course approved by the director of environmental law enforcement. The park has a level A motocross practice track, a level B motocross practice track, an all-terrain utility vehicle practice track, a pitbike track and two tracks for children. A person under the age of eighteen but at least ten years old cannot drive a motor vehicle off-road unless visually supervised at all times by a parent, legal guardian, or a person over the age of eighteen who has a valid driver's license. It is illegal to drive a motor vehicle, including off-road vehicles, on the beaches and sand dunes of the Gulf of Mexico, except on private property with a permit. A person who drives an all-terrain vehicle within the right of way on the road must meet registration, safety, and age requirements. It is illegal to cross any watercourse on public land in an ATV, except at a designated ford, crossing, or bridge or if the watercourse is divided in two by a trail.
No person may operate a snowmobile or recreational vehicle that is owned by another person without the written consent of the owner. A snowmobile or recreational vehicle can directly cross a road or road under certain conditions. No person may drive an ATV on publicly owned property, except on trails marked and designated for use by such vehicles, or without the express permission of the owner.
