Keep in mind that not all SUVs are made for passengers and it is illegal to carry an additional driver on a single-driver ATV. (j) The owner of a special purpose vehicle operated as a road approved special purpose vehicle shall ensure that the vehicle is equipped with: PHEVs that are not permitted to travel on the road may continue to use the right-hand side of non-centre carriageway roads for limited distances to connect the sits. You can also use the hard shoulders of most highways in the state. Unlicensed PHEVs are discussed in more detail in the final section. The law states that to operate on the road, ATVs and SxS must have certain safety equipment to be legal. If you plan to drive your ATV or UTV on the road, you must register it as a “special purpose vehicle legal for the road” under the new law passed in March 2020. ATVs are only legal on roads without a yellow line, and in some areas you can drive up to ten miles from the starting point on any road. Continuing our series of articles analyzing ATV laws in each state that emerged from this article, this article examines ATV laws in West Virginia. It`s also worth noting that while I`m a lawyer, I`m not your attorney, I`m not licensed to practice in West Virginia, and I don`t give legal advice.
If you have any questions, you should consult a local lawyer. Recent changes to state law in 2020 legalized ATV riding on certain public roads, as long as the person driving that vehicle follows certain rules and restrictions. Out-of-State Registered Vehicles: West Virginia does not have specific helmet laws for street-approved UTVs registered in other states. Since helmets are mandatory for occupants under the age of 18 in all other circumstances, we recommend that you do the same, as local law enforcement is more familiar with them. Parents, guardians or other persons who are responsible for a child under the age of 18 and who know that their child is operating an SUV without a helmet may be charged with an offence that has the following consequences: Generally, you are not allowed to operate an ATV or UTV on a public highway in West Virginia. This includes all highways and any road with a centre line or more than two lanes. So basically, you can ride an ATV or UTV on a one- or two-lane road with no center axis. As of February 4, 2020, it will now be possible to make your ATV or UTV street legal in West Virginia. Thanks to Chad Freeman for providing us with the updated legislation! In addition to the requirements described below, you must register and register your ATV or UTV in the same way as registering a motorcycle. There are always significant limitations if you can`t ride an ATV or UTV, even if it`s legal on the street.
They are as follows: On March 7, 2020, the West Virginia State Legislature passed a new law allowing legal ATVs on the road. This new bill (Senate Bill 690) “came into force” 90 days after its passage. You are allowed to cross a public road on an ATV or UTV in West Virginia under the following circumstances: ATVs are popular in West Virginia and across the country, but their use can also lead to dangerous accidents. If you own one of these vehicles, you should familiarize yourself with the laws that apply to its use. Compliance with the law will help you avoid ATV accidents as well as the legal penalties that come with non-compliance. If you only drive your vehicle on private land, the vehicle only needs to have a title and the following traffic law requirements do not apply. There may also be exceptions to the general ban on ATV and ATV use on the road in certain areas of West Virginia. Any municipality, county or HOA (with the approval of County Commissioners) may issue an order authorizing the use of ATVs or UTVs beyond what is permitted nationally. It got to the point where Gravely Polaris started stockpiling turn signal kits and road-approved tires so they wouldn`t have to order them all the time. Smalley said the typical upgrade to make a side-by-side road legal is $1,000 to $1,500. Please note that we are not lawyers, so this should not be construed as legal advice.
Read the bill and make sure you fully comply with the law. To make your ATV or UTV road legal in West Virginia, it must first be equipped with all of the following devices: Registration as a special purpose vehicle is a great option for local driving in West Virginia, especially for connecting hiking trails, but SPVs are far from road legal. With regard to distance travelled, the law states: “It is prohibited for specially designed and approved vehicles on the road to travel a distance of more than 20 miles on a highway bearing central markings.” This seems to mean that 20 miles is the total distance traveled, not 20 miles in one direction or within a 20-mile radius of the starting point.