Elkins City Council voted Feb. 18 against a proposed ordinance that would have allowed ATVs to ride on city streets. (j) The owner of a special purpose vehicle operated as a road-approved special purpose vehicle shall ensure that the vehicle is equipped with: In general, you are not allowed to operate an ATV or UTV on a public highway in West Virginia. This includes all highways and any road with a centre line or more than two lanes. So basically, you can ride an ATV or UTV on a one- or two-lane road with no center axis. On September 20, the Town of Elkins issued a press release saying that residents had complained about ATVs on city streets, reminding residents that in February, Elkins City Council rejected an ordinance that would have allowed ATV use in the city. Recent changes to state law in 2020 legalized ATV riding on certain public roads, as long as the person driving that vehicle follows certain rules and restrictions. “Therefore, current state and city laws allow UTVs that meet the requirements of (state law) to operate on city roads. To change that, the Council would have to take further action. West Virginia allows UTVs and certain other off-road vehicles to register as authorized special purpose vehicles (VPS) on the road.

It`s a great option for connecting local hiking trails, but it`s not enough to allow for UTV route approval at all levels. SPV driving distance is limited to just 20 miles, highways and controlled access highways are prohibited, and SPV registration does not provide road legality outside West Virginia. Please note that we are not lawyers, so this should not be construed as legal advice. Read the bill and make sure you fully comply with the law. ATVs are only legal on roads without a yellow line, and in some areas you can drive up to ten miles from the starting point on any road. There are always significant limitations if you can`t ride an ATV or UTV, even if it`s legal on the street. They are as follows: If you operate your vehicle solely on private property, the vehicle must only have one title and the following traffic law requirements do not apply. For your ATV or UTV to be street legal in West Virginia, it must first be equipped with all of the following devices: A legal UTV for the West Virginia road means having the freedom to ride the Hatfield-McCoy Trail system without worrying about the roads you can use to connect the segments. You can drive to Blue Ridge Drive, explore a new ORV area, or drive a new HMT segment without taking out the truck and trailer. “During the 2020 session of the West Virginia legislature, the legislature amended state law to create a framework within which certain ATVs and UTVs can legally operate on public roads and highways,” the press release said. Registration as a special purpose vehicle is a great option for local driving in West Virginia, especially for connecting hiking trails, but SPVs are far from allowed on the road. If you go from one ride to another, you are allowed to drive up to 10 miles at a speed of 25 miles per hour or less along the shoulder of the road.

ELKINS — Elkins officials said Friday that off-road vehicles “allowed on the road” — UTVs — can ride on city roads, but not all-terrain vehicles — ATVs. The most important caveat is that an SPV registration will not make your vehicle legal anywhere else. It`s up to local authorities to decide if your vehicle is legal outside of West Virginia, and in most cases, it won`t. The DMV told us that West Virginia is establishing reciprocal relationships with surrounding states, but these will certainly have limits as well. West Virginia`s traffic laws regarding ATVs, UTVs, and side-by-sides have changed. Under Senate Bill 690, passed in March 2020, drivers can now drive their vehicles on certain public roads with certain restrictions. You can cross a highway on an ATV or UTV in West Virginia under the following circumstances: There may also be exceptions to the general ban on ATV and UTV use on the road in certain areas of West Virginia. Any municipality, county or HOA (with the approval of County Commissioners) may issue an order authorizing the use of ATVs or UTVs beyond what is permitted nationally. PHEVs that are not authorized to travel on the road can still use the right side of non-centered roads for limited distances to connect trails. You can also use the hard shoulders of most highways in the state.

Unlicensed PHEVs are discussed in more detail in the final section. As of February 4, 2020, it will now be possible to make your ATV or UTV street legal in West Virginia. Thanks to Chad Freeman for providing us with the updated legislation! In addition to the requirements described below, you must register and register your ATV or UTV in the same way as registering a motorcycle. Once you have installed all the necessary equipment, you will need to have your ATV inspected to ensure that it meets all legal requirements. Out-of-State Registered Vehicles: West Virginia does not have specific helmet laws for street-approved UTVs registered in other states. Since helmets are mandatory for occupants under the age of 18 in all other circumstances, we recommend that you do the same, as local law enforcement is more familiar with them. The City of Elkins press release also explains the definition of “street legal” UTVs. If you plan to drive your ATV or UTV on the road, you must register it as a “special purpose vehicle legal for the road” under the new law passed in March 2020. For some, these restrictions lead them to seek more traffic legality in West Virginia and beyond, such as registration as a regular passenger vehicle or registration out of state. Let`s look at those options now. It is best to always wear a helmet to protect yourself from head trauma in the event of an accident, even if this is not required by the law on private property. A new law in West Virginia, Senate Bill 690, states that you must equip your ATV or side-by-side to make it road legal so it can pass inspection.

To pass the inspection, ATVs need headlights, turn signals, and even a windshield or pair of goggles, as well as other specifications. The law states that to operate on the road, ATVs and SxS must have certain safety equipment to be legal. On March 7, 2020, the West Virginia State Legislature passed a new law allowing ATVs allowed on the street. This new bill (Senate Bill 690) “came into force” 90 days after its passage. Keep in mind that not all SUVs are made for passengers and it is illegal to carry an additional driver on a single-driver ATV. “Contrary to previous news on this subject, it is not prohibited to operate on public roads in the town of Elkins. However, ATVs remain prohibited on city streets under current city law,” according to a press release from the City of Elkins on Friday. “Both can be operated on private property.” With regard to distance travelled, the law states: “It is prohibited for specially designed and approved vehicles on the road to travel a distance of more than 20 miles on a highway bearing central markings.” This seems to mean that 20 miles is the total distance traveled, not 20 miles in one direction or within a 20-mile radius of the starting point. In this context, the term “highway” refers to any public road.

ATVs are popular in West Virginia and across the country, but using them can also lead to dangerous accidents. If you own one of these vehicles, you should familiarize yourself with the laws that apply to its use. Compliance with the law will help you avoid ATV accidents as well as the legal penalties that come with non-compliance. West Virginia ATV riders who are injured in driving accidents may legally be entitled to compensation if their accidents are due to another person`s reckless or reckless actions. “According to the new law, W. Va. Code §17A-13-1, ATVs and UTVs that (1) meet all specified requirements of this Act (including, but not limited to, headlights, taillights, windshields, mufflers and similar items) and (2) are registered with the Motor Vehicles Division in the same manner that motorcycles (including a Class G licence plate) may operate on most public roads and highways (with the exception of controlled access roads, such as highways),” the press release reads. It got to the point where Gravely Polaris started stockpiling turn signal kits and road-approved tires so they wouldn`t have to order them all the time. Smalley said the typical upgrade to make a side-by-side road legal is $1,000 to $1,500. Many people are already rushing to modify their vehicles so they can drive on the roads, said Matt Smalley, director of Gravely Polaris of Dunbar.

He received about five calls a day from people asking what needs to be done to legalize existing off-roaders. Continuing our series of articles analyzing ATV laws in each state that emerged from this article, this article examines ATV laws in West Virginia. It`s also worth noting that while I`m a lawyer, I`m not your attorney, I`m not licensed to practice in West Virginia, and I don`t give legal advice. If you have any questions, you should consult a local lawyer. First, to be operated legally, the vehicle must be registered with the Department of Motor Vehicles as an “authorized special purpose vehicle on the road”. You must have valid insurance to register and obtain a license plate. In many ways, the registration and licensing requirements are similar to those for registering a motorcycle.