ATV's in Ohio.

All-Terrain Vehicles: Laws, Regulations and Rules to Ride By

AEX-597-05

Ohio ranks 15th in the nation for ATV accidents. Yearly, an estimated 40,000 emergency-room cases are reported nationwide; one third of all injuries are to children less than 16 years of age. The state has developed strategies and programs to reduce injuries and deaths related to careless, inappropriate and risky ATV use.

The goal of the 4-H Community ATV Safety Program is to increase the practice of safe behaviors and attitudes among the youth who operate ATVs. Additional emphasis must be placed on helping adults make informed decisions about whether or not young people in their care should operate an ATV.

Safe ATV riding depends on the rider's ability to recognize hazardous riding conditions. It is possible to determine how safe a ride will be by first evaluating the rider's personal abilities, the ATV capabilities, and then the terrain and environmental conditions.

It is not enough to just ride safely! There are certain laws that apply to riders. The following Ohio laws were created to provide an understanding between ATV riders and enforcement officers concerning the proper way to act while riding off-road. These laws protect people, property and the sport of ATV riding.

A drawing of riders on ATVs.

Operator's license

In order to operate an ATV on any public land, waters or highways, one must hold a current motor vehicle driver's or commercial driver's license, motorcycle operator�s endorsement or probationary license.

No person under 16 years of age shall operate an ATV on any land other than private property unless accompanied by a parent or guardian who is a licensed driver 18 years of age or older.

Although not recommended by the 4-H ATV Safety Program, Ohio law permits ATV operators to:

operate off and alongside a street or road for limited distances from the point of unloading to the point of the intended operating pathway.
operate on the berm or shoulder of a road when the terrain permits such operation to be undertaken safely and without the necessity of entering any traffic lane.
cross a highway whenever the crossing can be made safely and will not interfere with the movement of traffic in any direction, and provided the operator yields the right-of-way to any approaching traffic.

Ohio law states that ATVs shall not be operated as follows:

Do not operate on any limited access highway or take the right-of-way thereof, except for emergencies.
Do not operate on any private property, in any nursery, or on any farm ground without permission of the owner.
Do not operate on any land or iced-over waters controlled by the state, except at those locations where a sign has been posted permitting such operation.
Do not operate on the tracks or right-of-way of any operating railroad.
Do not operate while transporting any firearm, bow or other implement for hunting that is not unloaded and securely encased.
Do not operate for the purpose of chasing, capturing or killing any animal or waterfowl.
Do not operate during the time from one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise, unless there is a properly operating lighting system on the ATV.
Do not operate while riding under the influence of drugs or alcohol on public lands. It is possible for the courts to suspend one�s drivers license if found operating an ATV while under the influence. You may also be subject to fines, lawyer fees and possible jail time.

The tread lightly logo.

Tread Lightly

Future opportunities for exciting travel with your recreation vehicle are in your hands. Take the pledge to tread lightly by:

Traveling only where motorized vehicles are permitted
Respecting the rights of hikers, skiers, campers, and others to enjoy their activities undisturbed
Educating yourself by obtaining travel maps and regulations from public agencies, complying with signs and barriers, and asking owner's permission to cross private property
Avoiding streams, lakeshores, meadows, muddy roads and trails, steep hillsides, wildlife and livestock.
Driving responsibly to protect the environment and preserve opportunities to enjoy your vehicle on wild lands.

4H off the road logo.

ATV rider training courses are offered through the Specialty Vehicle Institute of America. Ask your local dealer about the program.

For information about the 4-H ATV safety program, contact your local county office of Ohio State University Extension.

Brochure developed by: Randall Reeder & S. Dee Jepsen
Reviewed by: Dr. Tom Bean, Becky Cropper & Tim Ballard

Ohio State University Extension

Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering

590 Woody Hayes Dr., Columbus, Ohio 43210

Titling & Registration Information

Listed below are acceptable types of evidence that may be used by the Clerk of Courts of Common Pleas Title Offices for title issuance on APV's and Off-Road Motorcycles.

ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:

Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin or Importer's Certificate of Origin;

Another jurisdiction's certificate of title in applicant's name, or assigned to Ohio resident;

A current or expired registration issued by Ohio or any other jurisdiction;

A notarized bill of sale;

A current insurance policy or declaration page that describes the vehicle by vehicle identification number (VIN), year, make, model, and issued to the applicant in this or another state;

A warranty order in applicant's name that describes the vehicle by VIN, year, make, and model;

A security agreement that lists the owner, lender, VIN, year, and make.

TWO OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING:

A required out-of-state inspection obtained from a Deputy Registrar license agency;

A sworn, notarized affidavit declaring ownership of the vehicle by the applicant;

A sworn, notarized affidavit by other persons attesting to applicant's ownership;

Receipts in applicant's name from the purchase of parts or components;

Photographs and or pencil tracings of the VIN.

APV, Off-Road Motorcycle, and Snowmobile Facts

Legislation requiring the registration of APV's, Off-Road Motorcycles, and Snowmobiles became effective July 1, 1999.

Dealers are required to provide a title for all APV's and Off-Road Motorcycles within 30 days from the date of purchase by a customer.

Snowmobiles will continue to be untitled vehicles.

Before an APV or Off-Road Motorcycle may be registered, it must be titled.

First time renewal of an APV or Off-Road Motorcycle registration will require the presentation of an Ohio title.

A new 30-day tag will be made available for customers to purchase if they wish to use their vehicle while waiting for a title to be secured.

The APV/Off-Road Motorcycle 30-day tag will be different from the current 30-day tag that is issued for other motor vehicles. The APV/Off-Road Motorcycle 30-day tag will be constructed of material that will enable it to remain legible and relatively intact despite the environmental conditions to which it is likely to be exposed during the 30-day period for which it is valid.

The fee for the 30-day tag will be $5.50 ($2 state fee plus $3.50 Deputy Registrar fee).

30-day tags will be available for purchase from dealerships licensed to sell APV's and Off-Road Motorcycles.

30-day tags will not be issued for Snowmobiles (Snowmobiles are not titled).

Ohio offers non-residents a 15-day registration for $8.50 ($5 state fee plus $3.50 Deputy Registrar fee).

Non-residents are required to purchase a temporary non-resident 15-day registration tag.

ATV Safety

Colonel Paul McClellan
Superintendent
Ohio State Highway Patrol

All-terrain vehicles (ATVs) are motorized cycles, with 3 or 4 low pressure tires, designed for off-road use on a variety of terrains. Although ATVs give the appearance of stability, their wheeled design can be especially unstable on hard surfaces. ATV stability is further compromised by a high center of gravity, and a poor or absent suspension system. The danger is magnified because most ATVs can reach speeds of 30 to 50 mph.

ATVs are capable of carrying a person almost anywhere, but unsafe or careless operation may cause serious or even fatal injuries. Most injuries associated with ATVs occur when the driver loses control, the vehicle rolls over, the driver or a passenger is thrown off, or the vehicle collides with a fixed object.

All-terrain vehicles (ATVs) can be fun, but they can also be deadly. More than 254,000 ATV-related injuries were treated in hospitals and doctors’ offices in the year 2000, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). They cost the U.S. over $6.5 billion in medical, legal and work loss expenses.

Since 1982, the United States has reported 2,000 ATV-related deaths. With more than 50 of these fatalities, Ohio ranks twelfth in the nation for ATV crashes.

Remember Ohio Law:

ATVs operated on lands other than those owned by the ATV operator or their family are required to be titled, display the assigned permanent registration number, and the driver is required to posses a valid driver license.
ATVs are required to be equipped with headlights and taillights.
No ATV may be operated on any limited access highway or portion of the highway’s right-of-way
ATVs operated on the berms or shoulders of any roadway may not interfere with the movement of vehicular traffic approaching from any direction. The terrain must permit such operation to be undertaken safely and without the necessity of entering any traffic lane.
An ATV may cross the roadway in a perpendicular fashion, but the ATV must always yield the right-of-way to all vehicular traffic.
ATVs may be operated on highways in the county or township road systems only when the local authority permits.
Troopers who observe operators in violation of Ohio laws will take appropriate enforcement action.
Be prepared. Make sure your vehicle is safety-ready and that you have appropriate training to operate the ATV.
It is recommended to always wear a helmet and recommended riding gear; including a long sleeve shirt or jacket, long pants, goggles (if the helmet does not provide face protection), boots, and gloves.
Travel at speeds conducive to conditions and operator abilities.
Check on the conditions of the trails you will be traveling.
In order to operate an ATV on any public land, waters or highways, operators must hold a current motor vehicle driver or commercial driver license, motorcycle operator's endorsement or probationary license.
No person under 16 years of age can operate an ATV on any land other than private property unless accompanied by a parent or guardian who is a licensed driver 18 years of age or older.
Operators that are 12 to 16 years old and are accompanied by a licensed operator that is at least 18 years of age are exempted from the valid driver license requirement.

Remember that to ride safely, you must understand the limits of your abilities, the capabilities of your ATV, and the environment in which you are riding. Increase your safety awareness, operate safely, and protect yourself and others.

It’s about safety.