For Immediate Release
Oct. 1, 2002

Contact: Bill Kresnak
Phone: (614) 856-1900
Fax: (614) 856-1920

California's Off-Highway Vehicle Program Reformed

PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- A new state law should help ensure that off-highway motorcycle and all-terrain vehicle (ATV) users have places to ride in California in the future, the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) reports.

The law, co-sponsored by Assembly Speaker pro tem Fred Keeley (D-Boulder Creek) and Assemblyman Mark Wyland (R-Del Mar), includes many of the suggestions of the Stakeholders Roundtable, a group put together by the state's Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division. The group includes AMA Government Relations Department staff as well as other off-highway vehicle enthusiasts, environmentalists, property owners, law enforcement personnel and others.

Among other things, the new law requires comprehensive planning to improve the chances of developing off-highway vehicle recreation areas, and calls for studies to understand the need for developing off-road sports complexes.

The new law also requires the state Department of Parks and Recreation to create a voluntary off-road rider safety training program by January 2005.

In addition, the new law requires that all the fuel taxes attributed to unregistered off-highway vehicles -- estimated to be $21 million a year -- go for land conservation, restoration of land damaged by off-road use, and for law enforcement.

Plus, the law reduces the legal noise limit for off-highway vehicles from 101 decibels to 96 decibels to bring the limit in line with federal standards for manufacturers.

Nick Haris, the AMA's western states representative, said the law "is important legislation and will be of great benefit to the growing number of off-road enthusiasts in California."

Talk About This In Our Forums