An accident last Saturday with four children on board an ATV occurred on a public road. The four children were injured when their four-wheeled vehicle collided with a pickup truck on a county road in the community of Brewer. In Mississippi, cities and counties determine on which, if any, off-road vehicles can be driven. Local ordinances determine which roads are open to ORVs, as well as additional requirements such as helmets, special equipment, intersection policies, and authorized hours of operation. Contact your local VDM or local law enforcement to find out what`s legal in your area. Road approval depends on the possibility of registering your ATV or UTV as a motor vehicle. As a starting point, you need to make sure you get a certificate of title, as described above. You`ll also need to make some modifications to ensure you have, if possible, DOT-approved seat belts and headlights, taillights, turn signals, brake lights, horn, and tires. If you are interested, read this tire guide and this guide to road homologation modifications. Johnson said the issue was a gray area in the law.
It doesn`t explicitly exclude public roads, meaning it`s legal, even though the federal government considers these vehicles “off-road.” Mississippi Highway Patrol spokesman Ray Hall said ATVs are illegal on highways because they don`t meet vehicle safety standards. Imagine driving to Mudslangers or Rattlesnake Bay without needing a truck and trailer to get there. You can head to Tennessee and drive to Windrock Park, or head to Arkansas to explore the winding roads of the Ozarks, all in your street-legal UTV. Best of all, our team of experts can complete the registration on your behalf, giving you more time to determine where you`re going to drive it first. I agree with Wesley Brewer, if there is such a big difference in weight and speed, then we have to ride motorcycles. Personally, I own a Sport ATV (2005 Yamaha Raptor 660) that rides 75-80 mph and weighs just over 400 lbs., but we still allow sports bikes on the road that weigh the same and can exceed 200 mph. IMHO I believe they should make ATVs legal on the road with the right lighting, horns, etc. like a motorcycle. In 2020, a staff member at Mississippi State University took a close look at the regulations surrounding ATV use in Mississippi and concluded that “ATVs cannot be used on public roads or highways in Mississippi.
There is no way to legalize an ATV for the road. Continuing our series of articles analyzing ATV laws in each state that emerged from this article, this article examines ATV laws in Mississippi. It should also be noted that although I am a lawyer, I am not your lawyer and do not give legal advice. If you have any questions, you should consult a local lawyer. 5. For the purposes of this Division, (a) “off-highway vehicle” means any off-highway vehicle, off-highway motorcycle or recreational vehicle. (b) “off-highway vehicle” or “ATV” means any motor vehicle manufactured and designed exclusively for off-road use and fifty (50) inches wide or less; has an unladen dry weight of one thousand (1,000) pounds or less; and drives with three (3), four (4) or more non-road tires. (c) “off-highway motorcycle” means a motor vehicle equipped with two (2) or more inflatable tires designed to operate on any terrain and capable of off-highway driving, whether or not the vehicle is legally authorized to operate on a highway. (d) “off-highway recreational vehicle” means any motor vehicle manufactured and designed exclusively for off-road use and with a width of sixty-five (65) inches or less; has an unladen dry weight of two thousand (2,000) pounds or less; and drives with four (4) or more non-road tires. “The legal end is what we`re fighting at this point: Can you ride an ATV on a public road or not?” said Johnson.
(c) “off-highway motorcycle” means a motor vehicle equipped with two (2) or more inflatable tires designed to operate on any terrain and capable of off-highway driving, whether or not the vehicle is legally authorized to operate on a highway. “It`s just a lot safer to use it off-road. That`s why they were designed,” Harrington said. First of all, it is important to understand what an ATV is. According to Mississippi law, an ATV is “a motorized vehicle manufactured and designed solely for off-road use. and [who] drives with three or four or more non-road tires. “In other words, ATVs are tricycles and four-wheeled vehicles. Other examples of off-road vehicles include off-road motorcycles and side-by-side commercial vehicles (VWUs). You don`t have to title your ATV or UTV in Mississippi. However, you can choose to have your ATV or UTV titled for free at the state tax commission. Copyright 2020 by Mississippi State University.
All rights reserved. This publication may be copied and distributed as is for non-profit educational purposes, provided that the Mississippi State University Extension Service is acknowledged. A few important points are in Mississippi`s laws for off-road vehicles. The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks has rules about how and when ATVs can be used in state parks, state lakes, wildlife management areas (WMAs), and recreational facilities. Whether a specific state or trail requires it, ATV/UTV and off-road motorcycle riders and passengers should always wear appropriate safety equipment and helmets when riding. Most people who drive their four-wheeled vehicles do so on their own property. There are many reasons why you would voluntarily choose to obtain a certificate of ownership on your ATV or UTV. This document proves your ownership, which can be very useful if your ride is stolen, or when it`s time to sell your ATV or UTV, or if you need to move out of state and register it elsewhere. Especially since there is no charge, we strongly recommend that you have your mountain bike or UTV titled. Code Ann.
ยง 63-31-3 (2015) Requirements for operating off-road vehicles on public lands; Safety courses for off-road vehicles.