County ORV Ordinances

compiled from several sources

Michigan Counties are being given the option to adopt ORV ordinances before July 17, 2009. If a county-wide ordinance is not established by that date, each township may create their own ordinance. Enforcing separate township rules would be a headache for law-enforcement agencies.

At the forefront of the controversy is that the ordinances can make it legal for ORV's to be operated on the shoulder or extreme right-hand edge of roads, at speeds up to 25 mph. This would not include Interstate Highways or Forest Service roads within the National Forest.

Some believe that allowing such use would bring more business to counties, while opponents have a list of concerns. One is that ORVs are not licensed, and there is no way reliable to identify lawbreakers. Increased ORVs would make road shoulders less safe for pedestrians and bicyclist. The increased noise and intrusion into forests is undesirable.

Some West Michigan Counties have already made decisions. On April 17, by a five to four vote, the Wexford County Board of Commissioners approved an ordinance that allows the use of ORV's on all their roads.

Mason County will hold a public meeting on Wednesday, April 22 to receive public information on the issue. The meeting will be at 7 pm at the Mason County Central High School, Scottville

See ORV ordinance issue tabled, from the Ludington Daily News, April 15, 2009
See Michigan Public Act 240 of 2008
These links are checked on the date of the article. As the article ages, some links may become invalid

Go To www.getoffthecouchnews.blogspot.com for all the news
See Get Off The Couch