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SF0017 • 2023

Off-road recreational vehicles-safety and insurance.

AN ACT relating to motor vehicles; requiring specified insurance and safety equipment for off-road recreational vehicles when operated on a public road right-of-way, street, road or highway; providing an exception; and providing for an effective date.

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Transportation
Last action
2023-02-15
Official status
enrolled
Effective date
7/1/2023

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary and text do not provide specific details about enforcement mechanisms or penalties for non-compliance.

Safety and Insurance for Off-road Recreational Vehicles

This law requires off-road recreational vehicles to have certain safety equipment and insurance when used on public roads, with exceptions for agricultural operations.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires off-road recreational vehicles to be equipped with a horn, muffler, and mirror when operated on any public road right-of-way, street, road or highway in Wyoming.
  • Requires proof of liability insurance with at least $25,000 coverage for off-road recreational vehicles used on designated trails.
  • Exempts off-road recreational vehicles from these requirements if they are being used for agricultural operations.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People who operate off-road recreational vehicles on public roads in Wyoming.

Terms To Know

Off-road recreational vehicle
A type of motorized vehicle designed primarily for use off paved roads, such as dirt bikes or all-terrain vehicles (ATVs).

Limits and Unknowns

  • The law does not specify what happens if someone violates the equipment and insurance requirements.
  • It is unclear how enforcement will be carried out.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

SF0017SS001

Standing Committee • Senate Transportation, Highways and Military Affai

Adopted

Plain English: The amendment adds an exception for off-road recreational vehicles used in agricultural operations and requires them to have a muffler when operated on public roads.

  • Adds an exception allowing off-road recreational vehicles to be used for agricultural purposes without being subject to certain regulations.
  • Requires off-road recreational vehicles to have a muffler installed if they are driven on public roads.
  • The amendment includes technical legal language that may not fully explain all changes in simple terms.

Bill History

  1. 2023-02-15 LSO

    Assigned Chapter Number 29

  2. 2023-02-15 Governor

    Governor Signed SEA No. 0013

  3. 2023-02-14 House

    H Speaker Signed SEA No. 0013

  4. 2023-02-13 Senate

    S President Signed SEA No. 0013

  5. 2023-02-13 LSO

    Assigned Number SEA No. 0013

  6. 2023-02-13 House

    H 3rd Reading:Passed 45-17-0-0-0

  7. 2023-02-10 House

    H 2nd Reading:Passed

  8. 2023-02-09 House

    H COW:Passed

  9. 2023-02-07 House

    H Placed on General File

  10. 2023-02-07 House

    H08 - Transportation:Recommend Do Pass 9-0-0-0-0

  11. 2023-02-06 House

    H Introduced and Referred to H08 - Transportation

  12. 2023-01-26 House

    H Received for Introduction

  13. 2023-01-26 Senate

    S 3rd Reading:Passed 30-1-0-0-0

  14. 2023-01-25 Senate

    S 2nd Reading:Passed

  15. 2023-01-24 Senate

    S COW:Passed

  16. 2023-01-24 Senate

    S Placed on General File

  17. 2023-01-24 Senate

    S08 - Transportation:Recommend Amend and Do Pass 5-0-0-0-0

  18. 2023-01-13 Senate

    S Introduced and Referred to S08 - Transportation

  19. 2022-12-28 Senate

    S Received for Introduction

  20. 2022-12-01 LSO

    Bill Number Assigned

Official Summary Text

Bill Summary - 23LSO-0019
Bill No.:

SF0017

Effective:

7/1/2023

LSO No.:

23LSO-0019

Enrolled Act No.:

SEA No. 0013

Chapter No.:

29

Prime Sponsor:

Joint Transportation, Highways & Military Affairs Interim Committee

Catch Title:

Off-road recreational vehicles-safety and insurance.

Subject:

Requiring specified safety equipment and liability insurance for certain off-road recreational vehicles; creating an exception.

Summary/Major Elements:

This act creates new equipment and liability insurance requirements for certain off-road recreational vehicles.
Off-road recreational vehicles operated upon any public road rights-of-way, streets, roads or highways within Wyoming must be equipped with a horn, a muffler, and a mirror.
Off-road recreational vehicles operated upon roadways designated as trails must have proof of liability insurance with limits not less than twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000.00).

This act creates an exception: these equipment and insurance requirements do not apply to off-road recreational vehicles operated on public road rights-of-way, streets or highways for agricultural operations.

The above summary is not an official publication of the Wyoming Legislature and is not an official statement of legislative intent.

While the Legislative Service Office endeavored to provide accurate information in this summary, it should not be relied upon as a comprehensive abstract of the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
23LSO-0019

ORIGINAL Senate

File No
.
SF0017

ENROLLED ACT NO. 13,

SENATE

SIXTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING
2023 General Session

AN ACT relating to motor vehicles; requiring specified insurance and safety equipment for off-road recreational vehicles when operated on a public road right-of-way, street, road or highway; providing an exception; and providing for an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1.

W.S. 31
‑
5
‑
952(e), 31
‑
5
‑
953(c), 31
‑
5
‑
954(a) and 31
‑
5
‑
1601(a)(i), (iv) and by creating a new paragraph (vi) are amended to read:

31
‑
5
‑
952.

Horns and warning devices.

(e)

This section applies to motorcycles, motor
‑
driven cycles, multipurpose vehicles, mopeds and off
‑
road recreational vehicles as defined by W.S. 31
‑
1
‑
101(a)(xv)(K)(II) that are registered pursuant to W.S. 31
‑
2
‑
232
and off
‑
road recreational vehicles as defined by W.S. 31
‑
1
‑
101(a)(xv)(K) that are operated pursuant to W.S. 31
‑
5
‑
1601
.

31
‑
5
‑
953.

Mufflers.

(c)

This section applies to motorcycles, motor
‑
driven cycles, multipurpose vehicles, mopeds and off
‑
road recreational
vehicle
vehicles
as defined by W.S. 31
‑
1
‑
101(a)(xv)(K)(II) that
is
are
registered pursuant to W.S. 31
‑
2
‑
232
and off
‑
road recreational vehicles as defined by W.S. 31
‑
1
‑
101(a)(xv)(K) that are operated pursuant to W.S. 31
‑
5
‑
1601
.

31
‑
5
‑
954.

Mirrors.

(a)

On or before January 1, 1986,

E
very motor vehicle including motorcycles, motor
‑
driven cycles, multipurpose vehicles, mopeds and off
‑
road recreational vehicles as defined by W.S. 31
‑
1
‑
101(a)(xv)(K)(II) that are registered pursuant to W.S. 31
‑
2
‑
232
and off
‑
road recreational vehicles as defined by W.S. 31
‑
1
‑
101(a)(xv)(K) that are operated pursuant to W.S. 31
‑
5
‑
1601
shall be equipped with a mirror mounted on the left side of the vehicle and so located as to reflect to the driver a view of the highway to the rear of the vehicle.

31
‑
5
‑
1601.

Operation on highways.

(a)

An off
‑
road recreational vehicle may be operated upon any public road rights
‑
of
‑
way, streets, roads or highways within Wyoming subject to the following conditions:

(i)

Off
‑
road recreational vehicles may be operated on main
‑
traveled roadways only upon that portion of a public road right
‑
of
‑
way, street, road or highway designated open by the state, local or federal agency with jurisdiction over the roadway and designated a Wyoming off
‑
road recreational vehicle trail pursuant to W.S. 31
‑
2
‑
701 through 31
‑
2
‑
707 by the department of state parks and cultural resources. No portion of a public road right
‑
of
‑
way, street, road or highway shall be designated as a Wyoming off
‑
road recreational vehicle trail by the department without the consent of the state, local or federal agency with jurisdiction over the roadway.

Off
‑
road recreational vehicles operated upon roadways designated as trails shall be subject
only
to the user registration fee prescribed by W.S. 31
‑
2
‑
703
and proof of liability insurance with limits not less than twenty
‑
five thousand dollars ($25,000.00)
and shall not be deemed a motorcycle as defined in W.S. 31
‑
1
‑
101(a)(xv)(E)(I) and 31
‑
5
‑
102(a)(xxii). Nothing in this paragraph shall be deemed to authorize the department to acquire or expand any public road right
‑
of
‑
way in order to accommodate the operation of off
‑
road recreational vehicles;

(iv)

The off
‑
road recreational vehicle shall be equipped with an adequate braking device that may be operated either by hand or foot
, a horn pursuant to W.S. 31
‑
5
‑
952(a), a muffler pursuant to W.S. 31
‑
5
‑
953(c) and a mirror pursuant to W.S. 31
‑
5
‑
954(a)
; and

(vi)

This section does not apply to off
‑
road recreational vehicles operated on public road rights
‑
of
‑
way, streets or highways for agricultural operations pursuant to W.S. 31
‑
5
‑
124(a)(i).

Section 2
.

This act is effective July 1, 2023
.

(END)

Speaker of the House

President of the Senate

Governor

TIME APPROVED: _________

DATE APPROVED: _________

I hereby certify that this act originated in the Senate.

Chief Clerk

1