I live in a neighborhood that has a dirt road running behind my house that connects my neighborhood to another. It is not a private road but it is not paved and is hardly ever traveled. I would like to ride my atv on it but can’t find any laws regarding the issue. Does anyone know what the law is concerning this? It seems to me that this is one of those issues where u will get 3 different answers if u ask 3 different LEO officers.
My understanding is that in order to drove a motor vehicle on a public road, it must be registered and insured. Years ago I actually got a $225 ticket for driving an ATV across a public road to a dirt trail… and it was a dirt road. DNR was hiding down the road waiting for us to “break this law” as we were at an ATV park.
Take it for what its worth, it probably depends on the situation and the LEO and the mood he’s in.
County or city?
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Originally posted by 23SailfishMy understanding is that in order to drove a motor vehicle on a public road, it must be registered and insured. Years ago I actually got a $225 ticket for driving an ATV across a public road to a dirt trail… and it was a dirt road. DNR was hiding down the road waiting for us to “break this law” as we were at an ATV park.
Take it for what its worth, it probably depends on the situation and the LEO and the mood he’s in.
That sucks Sailfish and thanks for the info. Exactly the situation I am trying to avoid.
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Originally posted by cofc41County or city?
I am in Columbia and my neighborhood is technically city of cola. We are past Harbison blvd which is really nowhere near downtown but the city has annexed out here so they can tax me.
It is not a private road but it is not paved and is hardly ever traveled.
If it’s not on private property, then that leaves public. I would think normal motor vehicle laws would apply. Legally speaking, of course … 
Did someone complain about you doing this or are you just finding out preemptively? If it’s all the way out there I can’t imagine anyone really caring. If someone gives you a problem, just plead ignorance.
As far as the law goes, if you’re riding it on a public road it qualifies as a motor vehicle. Unless it meets the standard of a moped, which I’m sure it doesn’t, then it needs to be registered. This applies to go-karts and all the other stuff you rode when you were a kid and didn’t think twice about. As long as you’re not causing a problem no one should complain about it.
I would do it and plead ignorance. They probably don’t know either.
Easier to ask forgiveness than permission,but it usually cost more.
No one has complained and I would be surprised if they did. I spend summer free time on the lake vs in the woods and was thinking it would be convenient to give the 4 wheeler a little run without taking it to the hunting property. I am thinking forgiveness over permission as well. Not concerned about safety but rather running into mr. green pants with his ticket book.
When I was a kid the local sheriff deputies would warn me at school about riding the 4 wheeler on the highway. I would always see them and take it back off road where they could not catch me. It was kind of like a game. They would always say,“one day I am going to catch you on that thing. Now stay off the highway.” I am sure if they really wanted to give me a ticket they could have just gone to my folks house and waited on me to get back. I think they just wanted me to be careful. Dont tear up the road with it and no on should complain.
- I’d rather be a free man in my grave than living as a puppet or a slave.
I would be careful in that area of Columbia. One of my son’s friends got a ticket for crossing a paved road. People that lived in the area did not like the noise of the dirt bikes and ATVs on weekends and complained often to law enforcement. Someone put a junk Jon boat blocking a curve that they took at high speed one weekend, caused some falls when a group came through. They even put a wire across the trail at neck height after that. It did work, they stopped riding there.
who owns the road?
“Crawfish”
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