Nebraska

Recent Legislative Action

2009

LR143: Authorizes a study of state ORV laws especially as they pertain to local regualtion - or a lack there of - and the safety implications of allowing ORVs on roads (5/21/09: Referred to committee)

2007

LR180: Calls for the Transportation Committee to study potential ORV laws on registration and title, and allowance of ORVs on highways (5/18/07: Referred to Transportation and Telecommunications Committee)

Community Voices Demand Action in Nebraska

Nebraskas are increasingly voicing their concerns about a growing contingent of reckless riders who break the law, damage public and private land, injure themselves and others, and ruin hunting, fishing and hiking experiences for the rest of us.

"In virtually every forest that has gone to designated trails from an open system there has been a reduction in miles (of trails). But it's not necessarily negative, if there is active management. You can have 800 miles of junk trail or 300 miles of great trail and people will enjoy the 300 miles of great trails." -- Tom Crimmins, consultant for the National Off Highway Vehicle Conservation Coalition (NOHVCC), "Workshop addresses off-highway vehicle issues", The Chadron Record (10/7/08)

"Allowing recreational ATV use on roads would be bad...They're so unstable...They just don't turn the same way as motorcycles or cars." -- Kevin Kavan, Sargent of Nebraska State Patrol, "Bill would open roads to ATVs", Omaha World-Herald (1/29/07)

Recent ORV-Related Media Coverage

Missing Beatrice baseball scoreboard turns up in barn near Firth

Written by Lincoln Journal Star
Monday, April 19, 2010
Algis J. Laukaitis An old scoreboard taken from Christensen Field in Beatrice last week turned up in a barn near Firth. John Dauber, who lives near Firth, said he found the scoreboard in the grass while helping a friend farm land adjacent to the ballpark.
Read more... [Missing Beatrice baseball scoreboard turns up in barn near Firth]

ATV driver from Lincoln suspected of homicide

Written by Lincoln Journal Star
Saturday, August 22, 2009
A Lincoln man, Devin R. Kreikemeier, was arrested on suspicion of motor vehicle homicide following a fatal ATV crash in northeast Nebraska early Saturday. The crash killed passenger Travis Williams, a 34-year-old from Brewster, Minn.
Read more... [ATV driver from Lincoln suspected of homicide]

Extension Focusing on ATV Safety in Nebraska

Written by Media-Newswire
Wednesday, October 01, 2008
(Media-Newswire.com) - LINCOLN, Neb. — All Terrain Vehicle safety is a paramount issue in Nebraska, and one on which University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension is taking action. Bob Meduna and Dave Varner, UNL extension educators based in Lincoln and Fremont, respectively, are spearheading the new Nebraska 4-H ATV RiderCourse training program.
Read more... [Extension Focusing on ATV Safety in Nebraska]

City Council nixes ATV proposal

Written by Beatrice Daily Sun
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Joelyn Hansen The city won’t allow all-terrain vehicles on city streets. The Beatrice City Council unanimously voted 6-0, with councilman Gary Lytle absent, to deny all-terrain vehicles as a legal form of transportation on city streets. The issue was raised at the July 7 council meeting by Beatrice citizens who asked the council to allow the use of ATVs on city streets. No action was taken at that time because many questions were raised by councilmembers and the public about the safety of operating ATVs on streets.
Read more... [City Council nixes ATV proposal]

State by State Momentum

Community Voices

"But it's been our observation that ATV riders who disregard rules governing where they are allowed to go are more likely to also disregard rules of courtesy and outdoor etiquette — and in ATVers' cases it's pretty obvious who did the disregarding. That creates a very directed backlash that affects all riders, responsible or not."

-- Great Falls Tribune, "Time for the annual reminder: Be a responsible ATV rider", (10/9/09)