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The House Judiciary
Committee rejected
the subcommittee
report on the ATV
Safety Bill. The ATV
safety bill can still
reappear in committee
but not with the
backing of the
subcommittee report.
House Judiciary Vice Chairman Dale
Manuel says some of the committee
members were missing, and says if
everyone was present, there might have
been a chance to accept the report.
The proposed legislation would have
required operators to wear a helmet if
riding on a paved road and would have
required juvenile riders to wear helmets
at all times. The bill would have
forbidden the popular four-wheelers on
the interstate or U.S. highways. The
provision would also forbid operation
under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Unlike earlier versions, the
subcommittee's report removed a written
permission requirement to use ATVs on
private land. Instead, the requirement
was substituted with expressed
permission, meaning word of mouth. The
legislation from the subcommittee also
removed a provision that would have
disallowed passengers on ATVs.
Lawmakers have been reluctant in recent
years to take any action that would
regulate four-wheelers. Their widespread
popularity in the hills and hollows of the
state make them a hot-button item
among elected leaders. The ATVs also
sport a powerful lobby organization.
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