A. Registration Of Off Highway Vehicle: Unless exempted under section 41-22-9 of the Utah Code, a person may not operate or transport and an owner may not give another person permission to operate or transport, any off highway vehicle on any public land, trail, street, or highway within the unincorporated area of Washington County unless the off highway vehicle has been registered in accordance with the requirements of title 41, chapter 22 of the Utah code for the current year.
B. Equipment Requirements: All off highway vehicles, as defined herein, shall be equipped with:
1. Brakes adequate to control the movement of and to stop and hold the vehicle under normal operating conditions; and
2. Headlights and taillights when operated between sunset and sunrise; and
3. A noise control device and a spark arrestor device.
An off highway implement of husbandry used only in agricultural operations and not operated on a highway, is exempt from the provisions of this subsection.
C. Protective Headgear:
1. A person under the age of 18 may not operate or ride on an all-terrain type I vehicle or motorcycle on any public land, trail, street, or highway within the unincorporated area of Washington County unless the person is wearing properly fitted and fastened, United States department of transportation safety rated protective headgear designed for motorized vehicle use.
2. The owner of an off highway vehicle or any other person may not give permission to a person who is under the age of 18 years to operate or ride on an off highway vehicle in violation of this subsection.
3. An operator and passengers of off highway implements of husbandry operated in the manner prescribed by Utah Code Annotated sections 41-22-5.5(3) and (4) (1953, as amended) are exempt from the requirements of this subsection.
4. Any person convicted of a violation of this subsection is guilty of an infraction and shall be fined not more than fifty dollars ($50.00) per offense.
D. Restrictions On Privately Owned Lands:
1. No person shall operate or accompany a person operating an off highway vehicle upon privately owned land of any other person, firm or corporation without permission from the owner or person in charge.
2. It shall be unlawful for any person operating or accompanying a person operating an off highway vehicle to refuse to immediately leave private land upon request of the owner or person in charge of such land.
3. Subsections C.1. and C.2. of this section shall not apply to county roadways established by prescriptive use or easements across privately owned land.
4. No person operating or accompanying a person operating an off highway vehicle shall obstruct any entrance or exit to private property without the owner’s permission.
5. It shall be unlawful for any person to tear down, mutilate, or destroy any sign, signboards, or other notice which regulates trespassing for purposes of operating an off highway vehicle on privately owned land, or to tear down, deface, or destroy any fence or other enclosure or any gate or bars belonging to any such fence or enclosure.
E. Prohibited Uses: No person may operate an off highway vehicle in connection with acts of vandalism, harassment of wildlife or domestic animals, burglaries or other crimes, or damage to the environment which includes excessive pollution of air, water, or land, abuse of the watershed, impairment of plant or animal life, or excessive mechanical noise.
F. Supervision, Safety Certificate Or Driver’s License Required:
1. A person may not operate and an owner may not give that person permission to operate an off highway vehicle on any public land, trail, street or highway within the unincorporated area of Washington County unless the person:
a. Is under the direct supervision of a certified off highway vehicle safety instructor during a scheduled safety course,
b. A person may not operate an off highway vehicle except in accordance with State law, title 41 section 22, including:
(1) Has in his possession the appropriate safety certificate issued by the state of Utah; and
(2) If under eighteen (18) years of age, is under the direct supervision of a person who is at least eighteen (18) years of age if operating on a public highway that is:
(A) Open to motor vehicles; and
(B) Not exclusively reserved for off highway vehicle use, or
c. Has in his immediate possession of valid motor vehicle operator’s license.
d. “Direct supervision” means oversight at a distance:
(1) Of no more than three hundred feet (300'); and
(2) Within which:
(A) Visual contact is maintained; and
(B) Advice and assistance can be given and received.
2. Penalties:
a. Any person convicted of a violation of this subsection is guilty of an infraction and shall be fined not more than one hundred dollars ($100.00) per offense.
b. It is a defense to a charge under this subsection, if the person charged produces in court a license or an appropriate safety certificate that was:
(1) Valid at the time of the citation or arrest; and
(2) Issued to the person operating the off highway vehicle.
3. The requirements of this subsection G do not apply to an operator of an off highway implement of husbandry.
G. Operation By Persons Under Eight Years Of Age Prohibited:
1. Persons Under Age Eight: Except as provided in section 41-22-29(3) of the Utah code, a person under the age of eight may not operate and an owner may not give another person who is under the age of eight permission to operate an off highway vehicle on any public land, trail, street, or highway within the unincorporated area of Washington County.
2. Violation: Any person convicted of a violation of this section is guilty of an infraction and shall be fined not more than fifty dollars ($50.00) per offense.
H. Designation Of Roads Open To Off Highway Vehicle Use:
1. Within the unincorporated area of Washington County, all county roads, except roads along, across, or within the boundaries of an interstate freeway or limited access highway, are designated as open for general off highway vehicle use. This designation does not include any road within and under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Forest Service, unless the road is a claimed R.S. 2477 road, or a county roadway established by prescriptive use or easements across privately owned land.
2. Subsection H.1. of this section does not apply to off highway implements of husbandry used in accordance with Utah Code Annotated section 41-22-5.5 (1953, as amended).
I. Operation Of Vehicles On Highways: No person may operate an off highway vehicle upon any street or highway not designated as open to off highway vehicle use, except:
1. When crossing a street or highway and the operator comes to a complete stop before crossing, proceeds only after yielding the right of way to oncoming traffic, and crosses at a right angle;
2. When loading or unloading an off highway vehicle from a vehicle or trailer, which shall be done with due regard for safety, and at the nearest practical point of operation;
3. When an emergency exists, during any period of time and at those locations when the operation of conventional motor vehicles is impractical or when the operation is directed by a peace officer or other public authority.
J. Speed/Regulations: Any person operating an off highway vehicle is subject to the provisions of title 41, chapter 6a of the Utah code, unless specifically excluded.
K. Penalties For Violation: Unless otherwise specified in this section, any violation of the terms of this section shall be punishable as a class C misdemeanor. (Ord. 2008-967-O, 11-3-2008; amd. Ord. 2024-1248-O, 1-16-2024)