Well I kind of figured this was coming. In the last few weeks ohvs have been mentioned in a couple letters to the editor and in opinion columns in the local papers. On todays front page of The Times Independent is a article headlined with City looks at ways to crack down on illegal utv, atv activity.

Basically the article discusses the city looking into a crackdown of non licensed ohvs on city streets. It also kind of says noise and speeding too. This is due to the amount of complaints received in the last few weeks. The newspaper is not good at putting articles on their web page or Facebook. If they post something or the Sun News which comes out tomorrow has something I will post it. Also complaint’s were received about the number of trailers parked on streets.

The police chief is quoted saying that he thinks 30 to 40% of the utvs on streets are not legally licensed. The mayor said that when people realize that illegal activities won’t be tolerated, they tend to stop. The mayor also said the city needs to spread the word that atv’s and utv’s that aren’t street legal won’t be tolerated in town.

As a local with 2 utvs it even bothers me the amount of speeding and loud or aftermarket exhausts. I’m not street legal because I refuse to pay about 160 per machine per year. The county even charges a $35 fee on my $23 dollar ohv sticker. Oh well I do have great riding here.

I guess that future visitors and locals need to be aware that if you are not in compliance or breaking the law you may get a ticket. Just because your street legal in your home state it doesn’t mean your legal in Utah. Your state must be on a reciprocal list for privileges in Utah. You must also have street insurance and have all the Utah required safety equipment even if your state doesn’t require it. Check Utah State Parks for more info.

Also I’d watch the amount of lights you have on when on streets. In the past month I’ve seen light bars, red cubes and red and blue whips on at night. I don’t know the law on it here but in most places you can’t have red or blue seen in front of your vehicle.

Hopefully this blows over soon but I don’t think it will. Some other tid bits from todays paper. The local ER had 76 people on sat & sun only 6 were local.
The state police shut down arches np multiple times over the weekend due to entrance traffic backing up to the Colorado river bridge a mile plus away. Arches had 2850 vehicles on Monday. Canyonlands np also had up to a line up to 2 miles to enter. It was 30 minutes to travel through Moab. Local Law enforcement had to direct traffic Saturday on some city streets because of backups from people making left turns.

Please be safe and aware when you come to visit.

Patrick