Officers crack down on ATV riders

Written by KOLD News 13

Friday, May 22, 2009

Teresa Jun

Officers with the Arizona Game & Fish Department will start issuing citations to ATV riders who are not displaying a proper OHV Decal on their vehicles.

As of January 1, 2009, Arizona law requires the decal to be applied to the license plates of off-highway vehicles that weigh 1,800 pounds or less. That includes most all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), side-by-sides (utility vehicles), dirt bikes, and some sand rails.

Officers have been operating under a 6-month grace period, issuing warnings to riders who are not in compliance. But starting July 1, they will start issuing citations.

The decal costs $25 per year. It's a user fee that will generate revenue for improving off-roading trails and enforcing safety.

"We're going to be able to hire seven brand new Game & Fish officers," said Gabriel Paz, with Arizona Game & Fish. "And they're going to be 100 percent dedicated to off-highway vehicles."

Source: http://www.kold.com/Global/story.asp?S=10413071&nav=14RT

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Community Voices

“During the past decade, I have personally had six out of seven elk hunts ruined by the careless intrusions of ATV operators. This epidemic has forced me to abandon one prime hunting area after another, only to encounter the same situation elsewhere. The shameful part of this picture is that the overwhelming majority of these ATV’ers are young and healthy, not decrepit or physically challenged. Maybe these riders would be more respectful of other people's outdoor experience if they knew we could ID them."

- Bill Sustrich, Colorado Backcountry Hunters and Anglers