With the warmer weather upon us and the start of the recreational season soon to begin, I thought it would be a good idea to provide an update regarding local ATV/UTV ordinances. I have written on this topic numerous times, but because this is a local authority issue that rests with the various towns, cities, and villages, I want to ensure everyone is up to date on where you can and cannot operate these units in Kewaunee County.
First, let’s go over what roads are involved when a community passes such an ordinance. If a town, city, or village authorizes the use of ATVs on its roads, then all of its respective roads may be traveled with these units. In addition, if a county or state road runs through that community and those sections are posted at 35 mph or less, they too are authorized for ATV use. Once those county or state roads leave that jurisdiction, or if the posted speed limits exceed 35 mph, those roads are no longer authorized. It is also important to note that any section of road must be posted with signage by the local authority to indicate such authorization before it can be used.
Thus far, the communities that have authorized the use of ATV/UTV units on their local roads are as follows: the Towns of Ahnapee, Casco, Carlton, Lincoln, Montpelier, Pierce, Red River, Luxemburg, and West Kewaunee. In addition, the Village of Casco has also authorized their use on its streets. Please note that, at this time, the Cities of Kewaunee and Algoma, along with the Village of Luxemburg and the Town of Franklin, have not authorized the use of these units on their respective streets and/or roads. Please respect these decisions and refrain from using their roads with these units until such time as they authorize their use.
Some of the most frequent questions I receive are from residents who live on a state or county road and want to travel on those roads to reach a town road. This is not authorized unless those sections of roadway are posted at 35 mph or less.
Another common question relates to the age of operation. Under state law, you may operate an ATV at age 12 on private property and local trails. However, in establishing safety parameters within local ordinances, the minimum age for operation on an authorized public roadway has been set at 16 years old with a valid driver’s license. In addition to the obvious concerns of operating an ATV on a roadway shared with motor vehicles, there is also concern about individuals who do not qualify for a license attempting to use these ordinances to circumvent the law.
Just as there are equipment requirements for motor vehicles, there are also requirements for ATVs operating on roadways. The primary requirement is the use of a helmet, along with the requirement of an unmodified, functioning exhaust. This helps prevent excessive noise and maintains the tranquility of our communities.
I want to thank those communities that have undertaken this effort to allow these units on their roads. While I will be the first to acknowledge that mixing recreational vehicles with standard motor vehicles is not my ideal public safety traffic environment, we can take pride in having created consistent, common-sense criteria for such use throughout Kewaunee County. If you would like to view the county ordinance, please visit our website at www.kewauneeco.org.
