AB 369

Under current law, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) administers

the laws regulating the operation and registration of all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and

utility terrain vehicles (UTVs). This bill establishes requirements for the operation

and registration of off-highway vehicles (OHVs) that are similar to the requirements

that apply under current law to ATVs and UTVs. The bill defines an OHV as a

four-wheel drive vehicle that has a ground clearance of at least seven inches, and

that is designed for use off of a highway, regardless of whether it is also designed for

use on a highway. The bill defines ground clearance as the distance between the base

of an off-highway vehicle tire and the underside of the chassis of the off-highway

vehicle. The bill excludes ATVs, UTVs, watercraft, and motorcycles from the

definition of an OHV.

OHV trails

This bill requires DNR to encourage and supervise a system of OHV trails in

the same manner that DNR is required under current law to encourage and

supervise a system of ATV trails. The bill allows DNR to establish standards and

procedures for certifying the designation of OHV trails. As under current law

applicable to ATV trails, this bill allows a county, city, village, or town or DNR to

designate corridors through land that it owns or controls for use as OHV trails. The

bill also requires DNR to prepare maps that identify each OHV trail in this state.

OHV registration

This bill creates two classes of OHVs. Under the bill, a Class A OHV is an OHV

that qualifies for registration by the Department of Transportation (DOT) under the

laws that regulate the operation of vehicles on highways. A Class B OHV is generally

one that may not be operated on a highway and that does not qualify for registration

by DOT. With certain limited exceptions, the bill requires any person who operates

an OHV on an OHV trail or other established public off-highway vehicle corridor to

register the OHV with DNR and to pay an annual registration fee. The fee for

registration of a Class A OHV is $50 and the fee for registration of a Class B OHV

is $100. The bill also requires a person who is a Class B OHV manufacturer, dealer,

distributor, or renter to register with DNR and obtain a commercial OHV certificate.

Any person who registers an OHV with DNR must include the name and address of

every owner of the OHV.

This bill authorizes DNR to appoint an agent to accept OHV registration

applications on behalf of DNR in the same manner as DNR is authorized to appoint

agents to register ATVs and UTVs. As with ATV and UTV registration, the agent is

entitled to collect, and retain a portion of, a service fee for providing registration

services.

Current law establishes a registration program under which the Lac du

Flambeau band of Lake Superior Chippewa may issue registration certificates for

ATVs and UTVs that are equivalent to the registration certificates issued by DNR.