The Cook County Board of Commissioners voted Tuesday, May 26, 2009 to allow Class 1 all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) on the shoulders of gravel-surfaced county roads. Thiswill be seen as good news for ATVers from outside the county who would like to take advantage of the new opportunities afforded by the ordinance. Following are some of the regulations that ATVers need to know, especially since some relate to requirements for safety hardware on the vehicles.
The ordinance, which will be in effect for three years, states: For gravel-surfaced county roads, ATVs may operate in the shoulder but not in the ditches. For paved county roads, ATVs may operate in the ditches only, unless otherwise authorized by Minnesota law.
Use on the shoulders of gravel-surfaced county roads requires that:
„ A ll laws and regulations controlling use of
public roads by motorized vehicles are followed;
„ T he driver has a valid driver’s license;
„ T he driver has valid liability insurance;
„ T he driver is not careless, reckless, or negligent
in a way that endangers or causes
injury or damage to the person or property
of another;
„ Speed is reasonable and proper under
the circumstances and not more than 10
m.p.h. within 100 feet of slower-moving
users of the road;
„ T he AT V does not crowd non-motorized
traffic when passing;
„ T he AT V does not impede the traveled way
of any county road;
„ T he AT V does not have a snorkel device
with raised air intake six inches above the
original manufacturer’s air intake;
„ T he AT V has a functioning stop or taillight
(if so equipped);
„ Headlights and taillights are lighted at all
times;
„ T he AT V has a functioning hand or foot
brake;
„ T he AT V has a rearview mirror on the driver’s
left side;
„ Only one person is riding the AT V except as
allowed by Minnesota statute;
„ A ny driver or passenger under the age of
18 is wearing a helmet;
„ A n adult accompanies drivers under the
age of 18 on another AT V;
„ A ll related Minnesota statutes and rules
are followed.
Other provisions of the ordinance include the following:
„ Violation of the ordinance constitutes
a misdemeanor. The county board will
request an annual report regarding AT V use
from the Sheriff’s Office, the Cook County
Highway Department, and the Minnesota
Department of Natural Resources.
„ T he highway engineer, with input from
the sheriff, will place appropriate signage
addressing AT V use on county roads.
„ T he county board may close or restrict any
county road to AT V use, with notice posted
by the Highway Department.
„ T he AT V ordinance, Cook County Ordinance
#54, can be found in its entirety on
the county website at www.co.cook.mn.us.
and on page C3 of this issue of the Cook
County News-Herald.
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