Motorist protection act and atv's

[Bullwhip]

As of right now, the only 2 states that will let you legally ride an atv on the street are Arizona and Utah.

New Hampshire too on designated trails. "OHRV" is ATVS and snowmobiles, both can ride marked routes on city streets.

[flb_78]

Ive seen license plates on ATV's in Colorado. I believe they're limited to what roads what they are allowed to ride on though.

[bcdudley]

I just got a letter back from Flynn and an email from Guillen over the weekend. Most of it was the standard form letter response, but they did read the letter enough to respond to certain parts of it. I have posted this on a couple of ATV web sites, but I have not gotten as much response back as I would like.

Looking at the bills, they are simply amendments to the Motorist protection act to include boats on Texas waterways. It seems like it would be simple enough to add ATV's and OHV's to this amendment.

Hopefully, more people will write in encouraging them to add this. I have done my part.

[rm9792]

Is an ATV classified as a motor vehicle in Texas? I think that is the clue to answer your question.
Is it even legal to ride an ATV on a public road?

no and no.

I guess that alvins three words cover it.

Normal atv's can not be driven on the road but there are ways to make them DOT approved and licensed as motorcycles. There are companies around Houston doing that.

[rm9792]

Yes, I completely agree that the line "designed for use on a highway" would exclude ATV's. We are going on a day long expedition this weekend and I was wanting to know if I could carry. Some of the areas we ride are public land, but nearby residents consider it their own since it is not maintained by the state.

ATV's cannot be made street legal in Texas, period. Already seen that discussed in ATV forums numerous times.

Thank you

Wrong, there are places doing just that. DOT tires, blinkers horn are needed but there are street legal atvs running around. I have seen them on the roads myself with M/C plates.

[bcdudley]

Ok, so lets just forget about the entire riding them on the road deal and focus on the main issue of being able to carry while riding... anywhere on an atv. How about if I am riding (theoretically) someplace public where it is legal to ride one. I think that the motorist protection act should cover atv riders on Texas trails the same as the Guillen and Flynn house bills propose that boaters should be able to carry a sidearm while on Texas waterways.

The law may not say anything about it now, but with enough emails to senators and representatives, it could easily happen.

By the way, my CHL is in the mail now, so I am not necessarily doing this for myself. I am doing this to stand up for others second amendment rights.

[tacticool]

I think that the motorist protection act should cover atv riders on Texas trails the same as the Guillen and Flynn house bills propose that boaters should be able to carry a sidearm while on Texas waterways.

I agree with the idea of expanding MPA. Those bills would allow someone to carry in their bass boat or on a PWC, so it's not a big stretch to include an ATV...or a snowmobile for the people in North Texas.

[bcdudley]

I was going to include snowmobiles, but the snowmobile market just isn't that big, I wouldn't think, in Texas. Besides, I think OHV kind of includes them anyway.