Summer is winding down and our little Lakewood community has seen lots of activity in the past couple months. Fortunately for those of us who enjoy outdoor activities and recreational motor sports, we are perfectly located with both snowmobile and ATV/UTV routes running right through our neighborhoods! Along with owning these recreational vehicles and partaking in the sport comes the need for both respect and responsibility about knowing and abiding by the laws set forth by not only the State of Wisconsin DNR, but local ordinances as well. In the past month we have received several emails and complaints concerning dangerous and unlawful use of recreational vehicles….for this reason I wanted to just remind everyone to know our Wisconsin state laws and to abdide by them whether you are an avid trail rider who likes to do 100+ mile jaunts or just like to spin around the ‘hood. Please take note that our entire Lakewood subdivision has a posted speed limit of 10 m.p.h. This is the maximum speed limit for ATV/UTV use in our neighborhood. Outside of Lakewood it is the posted speed limit. (unless otherwise posted.) Be aware of age restrictions and helmet laws. Kids may take a safety course and be granted a safety certificate at age 12, however all kids between the ages of 12-15 can only ride trails and routes when accompanied by an adult. Anyone under the age of 18 is required, by law, to wear a minimum DOT standard helmet and bike helmets do not meet this requirement. A few years back, Wisconsin passed a law to allow UTVs access to trails and routes as well….and with that people loosely interpreted golf carts as a form of “UTV”. While this particular topic can create all sorts of conversation, the Wisconsin DNR describes a UTV as such: Utility Terrain Vehicle—means any of the following: • A commercially designed and manufactured motor driven device that does not meet federal motor vehicle safety standards in effect on July 1, 2012, that is not a golf cart, low-speed vehicle, dune buggy, mini-truck, or tracked vehicle, that is designed to be used primarily off of a highway, and that has, and was originally manufactured with, all of the following: ◊ A net weight, without fluids, of 2,000 pounds or less. ◊ Four or more low pressure or non-pneumatic tires. ◊ A steering wheel.A tail light. ◊ A brake light. ◊ Two headlights. ◊ A width of not more than 65 inches. ◊ A system of seat belts, or a similar system, for restraining each occupant of the device in the event of an accident. ◊ A system of structural members designed to reduce the likelihood that an occupant would be crushed as the result of a rollover of the device. Whereas, their description of a golf cart reads as: Golf cart—a vehicle in which the speed attainable in one mile does not exceed 20 mph on a paved, level surface, and that is designed and intended to convey one or more persons and equipment to play the game of golf in an area designated as a golf course. Also, other motorized toys that are not street legal include dune buggy and go carts. Lastly, be aware that mopeds are a licensed vehicle and you must be 16 years old with a valid drivers license. There are 100’s and 100’s of miles of routes and trails in Adams County and the surrounding area for great riding….please be responsible when using them 🙂 To learn more about these and more rules and regulations, we have posted a quick link under the ‘resources’ tab. When in doubt, check it out….it’s cheaper than the alternative. HAPPY TRAILS!
