Are you curious if you can legally drive an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) on private property? The answer is yes, as long as you own the land. It is illegal to drive an ATV on a private road or property that is not owned by you, even if the road is not marked as private. If you are under 14 years of age, you cannot operate an ATV unless it is in preparation for participating in a race or event sanctioned and supervised by a person over 18 years of age. If you are between 14 and 16 years old, you can operate an ATV with an engine capacity equal to or less than 90 cubic centimeters if it is directly supervised by a person 18 years of age or older.
However, if the ATV has an engine capacity greater than 90 cubic centimeters, you cannot operate it. It is also illegal to operate an ATV on private property without the permission of the owners. Additionally, no person may operate 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. When driving an ATV, it should have most of the standard equipment, such as headlights, taillights, and a working silencer.
It is illegal to operate a motor vehicle, including off-road vehicles, on the beaches and sand dunes of the Gulf of Mexico, except on private property with permission. It does not apply to any person who uses an ATV for hunting or trapping if they are legally involved in those activities. All off-road vehicles must also have headlights and taillights for driving at night or when the light isn't enough. The operator of an ATV can drive the vehicle on a public street, road, or highway that is not an interstate highway or with limited access to cross those roads.
Passenger restrictions for all-terrain vehicles: sanctions and compliance: responsibility of parents or vehicle owners Applicability. All-terrain vehicles, including three-, four-wheeled vehicles, or other all-terrain vehicles that are not specifically designated for road use, can be driven on the shoulders of all public highways and highways, except interstate highways, solely for farm-related activities within a five-mile radius of a farmer's farm, provided that the operator holds a valid Class E driver's license and vehicle license plate. No person under the age of sixteen may drive an ATV in this state unless accompanied and under the direct supervision of a parent or guardian, or accompanied and under the direct supervision of an adult who is authorized by the operator's parent or guardian to supervise the operator. A person cannot drive an off-road vehicle in a way that harms the environment when prohibited by a rule, regulation, ordinance, or code.
If a minor is under 16 years old, a parent or guardian must attend a session of a recreational vehicle safety and responsibility course. At least one white or amber headlight with a minimum candle power of sufficient intensity to show people and vehicles that are at least 100 feet ahead during hours of darkness under normal weather conditions must be present. A person may drive an off-road vehicle only on roads, trails, routes, or areas that are open as indicated in the rules or regulations of a federal agency, this state, a county, or a municipality. Every person aged 15 years or younger who drives an ATV must have a safety certificate stating that they have successfully completed an all-terrain vehicle safety workshop approved by the All-Terrain Vehicle Safety Institute. A child under the age of 12 can operate an ATV on private land or if used for agricultural purposes but can never operate an ATV on a highway. A person can operate a wheeled all-terrain vehicle on any public road in this state with a speed limit of thirty-five miles per hour or less but not including roads and trails other than highways. A person under the age of eighteen cannot drive or ride an off-road vehicle on public or state land without a protective helmet.
