Public hearing planned for proposed ORV ordinance

Kate Hessling

BAD AXE — Off-road vehicles are getting a little closer to being able to travel along the shoulders of many area roads, as county officials will host a public hearing in June on the proposed ORV ordinance.

If the Huron County Board of Commissioners vote to adopt the ordinance following that public hearing, it could be effective as soon as July 1, county officials said Tuesday.

Michigan lawmakers approved a law in 2008 that gave rights to local governments in 43 northern counties to allow ORVs to travel on the shoulders of local and county roads. While the legislation originally didn’t include Huron County in the 43-county mix, it was amended to include the local area after some lobbying by county officials.

Huron County’s inclusion in the legislation resulted in the need for the county to craft an ORV ordinance. Huron County Corporation Counsel Stephen J. Allen reviewed the county’s proposed ordinance during Tuesday’s Huron County Board of Commissioners meeting.

The proposed ordinance allows ORVs to travel along the side of county and local roads, but not on state highways, as state law prohibits ORVs from traveling on — but not crossing — federal and state highways, Allen said. Roads in cities and villages also are exempt, he said.

The ordinance sets forth the following conditions that an ORV may travel on a county or local road:

• At a speed of no more than 25 miles per hour or a lower posted ORV speed limit.
• By a person not less than 12 years of age, or 18 years of age unless the person is in possession of a valid driver license or is under the direct visual supervision of a parent or guardian and the person has in his or her immediate possession a Michigan based ORV safety certificate or a comparable ORV safety certificate issued under the authority of another state or a province of Canada.
• With the flow of traffic on the far right of the maintained portion of the road.
• In a manner that does not interfere with traffic on the road.
• Traveling single file, except when overtaking and passing another ORV.
• While displaying a lighted headlight and lighted taillight at all hours beginning Jan. 1.
• While the operator and each passenger is wearing a crash helmet and protective eyewear approved by the U.S. Department of Transportation, unless the vehicle is equipped with a roof that meets or exceeds standards for a crash helmet and the operator and each passenger is wearing a properly adjusted and fastened seat belt.
• With a throttle so designed that when the pressure to advance the throttle is removed, the engine speed will immediately and automatically return to idle.
• While the ORV is equipped with a spark arrester type United States Forest Service approved muffler in good working order and in constant operation.
• Pursuant to noise emission standards defined by law.

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Source: http://www.michigansthumb.com/articles/2010/04/28/news/local_news/doc4bd81fd1555a9024378270.txt

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