Syclone#1992
Forum Member
Looks like this is a small step to help that.....
http://freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080730/NEWS06/807300329
http://freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080730/NEWS06/807300329
Freep.com said:Off-road vehicle riders as young as 12 may soon take their four-wheelers and dirt bikes on-road in northern Michigan, under a new state law supporters say will boost tourism for the state's sagging economy.
Forty-three counties now have the authority to allow four-wheel off-road vehicles -- or all-terrain vehicles -- and unlicensed trail bikes on county and local roads, at speeds up to 25 m.p.h. and on the far right of the road. Otherwise, it's illegal to ride an ORV anywhere but on state-approved trails or private property, with permission.
State roads and interstate highways will remain off-limits to ORVs.
ORV enthusiasts and a northern Michigan lawmaker sought the change, saying the four-wheelers and dirt bikes are becoming more popular than snowmobiles in his neck of the woods as winters have dumped less snow.
Rep. Joel Sheltrown, D-West Branch, said it's inconvenient for ORV enthusiasts -- including many from southeast Michigan -- to haul their machines north and then have to load and unload them to get from trail to trail or to local businesses.
It makes more sense to let them drive ORVs to party stores, campgrounds or restaurants without getting stopped by police, Sheltrown said.
ORVs are part of the culture in much of northern Michigan, Sheltrown said. Some counties allowed ORVs on roads until the attorney general ruled it was illegal in 2006. The new law lets counties decide.
"Traffic is not going to be a problem. The fact is, they're already out there running now," Sheltrown said. "This will regulate them with a speed limit, and it requires helmets."
The legislative analysis of the bill noted that the Consumer Product Safety Commission has called for banning ATVs from paved roads because of their instability, especially at night.
In 2007, Michigan had 211 crashes and eight deaths connected with ORV crashes, though both numbers were down from 2005 and 2006.
Under the law, the 43 northern counties can designate roads for ORVs, and they can mark up to 30% of their roads off-limits to ORVs. Local governments in those counties can choose to allow or prohibit ORVs on their own streets and roads.
Sheltrown said about a half dozen or so counties already have taken steps to designate roads for ORV use.
The new law doesn't affect some vehicles that are registered both as road vehicles and as ORVs, such as pickups and SUVs that are used on trails.
Bill Kerns, general manager of Spicer's Boat City in Houghton Lake, one of the country's largest ATV dealers, said industry and ATV owners welcome the change, which he said already is generating a lot of potential new customers.
"A lot of them said they were waiting until it passed to buy new ATVs," Kerns said. "And we've had people from the ATV clubs say that it will bring a lot more business to these towns because it will be easy for them to ride in to get gas and eat at restaurants."
Kerns said that many people think they will be able to ride their machines on roadsides immediately. But that can't happen until counties take action.
"Getting this approved is going to take a lot of work, and it isn't going to happen overnight," he said.
Some state agencies opposed the change out of concerns over traffic safety and the safety of ORVs on paved roads.
Rick Sprowl, 55, of Saginaw said he was surprised to hear about the new law. He said it could raise insurance costs for Michigan motorists.
"Children are constantly hurt on those things," Sprowl said. "I can't believe the legislation will allow that.
"We require booster seats for kids in cars, seat belts, driver's licenses, and now we allow these vehicles with no safety protection on the road. It's a bad idea."
ORVs must bear an annual state sticker, which costs $16.25. The state requires an ORV safety certificate for ORV drivers younger than 16 on trails.
Under the new law, ORV riders ages 12 to 18 who drive on approved local roads would have to have a Michigan driver's license or be under a parent's direct supervision.
Steve Cross and his son, Jerry, are veteran snowmobilers who like that sport so much that they moved to Lakes of the North near Mancelona when Steve Cross retired from a General Motors plant in Flint two years ago.
But they can use their ATV most of the year.
"We really love snowmobiling, but it's a three-month-a-year sport," Cross said. "We only bought this ATV a couple of weeks ago to see if we'd like it, and it's really a lot of fun."
Cross said he is looking forward to legally riding his ATV into towns for gas and food.
He said the state should increase the price of an ORV trail sticker to $25 or even $50 because "it might get rid of some of the idiots."
Tom Rose, owner of the Way North Motel and Cabins near Houghton Lake, said the law will boost his business. He said many ORV riders are ticketed by police for riding on local roads.
Rose said there's an ORV trail 2 miles from his motel, but ORV riders now can't ride their vehicles from his parking lot on the county road to the trail.
If Roscommon County allows it, that will make his resort more attractive as a staging area for ORVs.
Tim Roberts, who lives on 80 acres near Mancelona, said he uses his four-wheelers for everything from hauling a deer blind or ice shanty to hauling firewood.
"I really like this new law. I hope our county passes it soon," he said. "My friend has his hunting camp about 2 miles from my place, but if I want to go there, I have to haul the ATV on a trailer
