County mulling off-road vehicle rules

Danielle Arndt

STANTON - The Montcalm County Law Enforcement and Courts Committee will approach the full Board of Commissioners later this month about possibly drafting an off-road vehicle (ORV) ordinance.

The Michigan House of Representatives initiated the discussion with a bill passed in December expanding the option of adding an ORV ordinance to seven more counties - Montcalm, Saginaw, Sanilac, Huron, Tuscola, Gratiot and St. Clair. The ordinance would permit individuals to drive dirt bikes, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and three- and four-wheelers on county roads.

It would not permit ORV traffic on major state and federal highways in the county. Operators would have to obtain an ORV title for the vehicle through the Secretary of State's Office and an ORV license through the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

"If we are going to let snowmobiles run on our county roads, then I believe we ought to have an ORV ordinance too," said District 4 Commissioner John Johansen. "We will not be doing anything right away. We are going to see whether or not the full board wants us to proceed."

District 3 Commissioner Ron Retzloff said there are a number of restrictions spelled out in the House bill, such as how old a person must be to operate the ORV, what time of day it is permitted and where on the roadway the vehicle must be driven.

He said ORV use on roads in northern Montcalm County and around Crystal Lake already is high. Retzloff believes an ordinance may help regulate the traffic.

Montcalm County Sheriff Bill Barnwell said he has some concerns about the ordinance, specifically how it would legalize operating them on public roadways. He also was not a proponent of the county's snowmobile ordinance when it passed.

"I think there are not as many complaints as there are violations and the violations can lead to serious safety issues," Barnwell said.

He suggested allowing the townships and villages to decide whether to permit ORVs on their roads.

"I would hate to see us have 20 different ordinances," Retzloff said. "It would be such a mess."

District 6 Commissioner Carl Paepke said the commissioners should be very careful with this issue and research it thoroughly.

Retzloff did not believe an ordinance would increase the number of ORVs on the road, saying it is expensive to have these vehicles licensed.

A public hearing would be hosted prior to adopting the ordinance if commissioners decide to draft one.

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Source: http://www.thedailynews.cc/Main.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID=11&ArticleID=32181

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