AB 527

Under current law, a person may operate an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) or utility

terrain vehicle (UTV) on the roadway of a highway, street, or road only in certain

limited circumstances. This bill specifically authorizes the operation of an ATV or

UTV by an operator who is at least 16 years old on a portion of a roadway and

shoulder of a highway, street, or road if the highway, street, or road is within the

territorial boundaries of a county, city, village, or town (municipality) that has

enacted an ordinance allowing the operation of an ATV or UTV on that roadway and

shoulder for the purpose of traveling between an ATV trail or route and a filling

station, a residence, or a lodging establishment, including a campground. For UTVs,

a city, village, or town must have authorized the operation of UTVs on the ATV route

or trail for which UTV access is being allowed. A municipality may not enact an

ordinance opening a highway for ATV and UTV access to and from a lodging

establishment unless it has also enacted an ordinance opening a highway for ATV

and UTV access to and from residences.

Under the bill, for a state trunk highway (STH), the portion of the highway that

may be open for UTV or ATV access must be the shortest distance between the

residence, lodging establishment, or filling station and the ATV route or trail. For

distances on a STH that are more than one-quarter mile, the Department of

Transportation (DOT) must approve the access. For distances on a STH that are

one-quarter mile or less, a municipality may enact an ATV or UTV access ordinance

unless the portion of the STH to be affected has been closed to ATVs or UTVs based

on DOT's finding that it is unsafe to operate ATVs or UTVs on that portion of the

STH. For any highway other than a STH, the distance open for ATV or UTV access

may not be more than five miles.

The bill prohibits a municipality from enacting an ordinance that allows the

operation of ATVs or UTVs for residential, lodging or fueling access on the roadway

or shoulder of any freeway or interstate highway and on any highway that is located

in a state park or state forest if ATV or UTV operation is prohibited in the park or

forest. Under the bill, an access ordinance must impose a speed limit of 25 miles per

hour and must require that the ATV be operated as far on the right as possible.