Plate your dirt bike!

[FZRguy]

EMAILS NEEDED THIS WEEKEND!
Please take 5 minutes to email committee members.

HB15-1054

Bill on County Road Access Needs Your Support

COHVCO has been keeping our members informed on Colorado Counties Proposed OHV legislation. The fact that a 10 year old may operate an OHV when the county opens a road is seriously jeopardizing existing road access and is preventing much needed new access. Also, the lack of the counties’ ability to legally apply the Traffic Code for serious traffic violations is creating major problems. This bill removes those obstacles.

COHVCO made sure there is one standard title fee and no motor vehicle taxes except for the cost of a one time plate and registration. No annual registration or taxes. Your annual OHV registration fee stays in place.

If you want to see this problem finally put to bed, we need your help. The bill was just scheduled for a hearing in the House State Affairs Committee on the morning of January 28^th.

Below is a list of legislators and here are talking points to use in your email. These legislators must know how important the bill is. They individually need a short email asking for your vote for safety. The e-mails must arrive no later than Tuesday morning on January 27^th. Earlier is better…like this weekend.


Su Ryden - Chairperson su.ryden.house@state.co.us
Joseph Salazar - Vice Chairperson joseph.salazar.house@state.co.us
Dianne Primavera dianne.primavera.house@state.co.us
Mike Foote mike.foote.house@state.co.us
Max Tyler max@maxtyler.us
Susan Lontine susan.lontine.house@state.co.us


Removes reasons for closing existing open county roads and encourages counties to create more road access by requiring a driver’s license.

[#1Townie]

So Ummmm let me just make sure I get this correct. You want to pass a law that would stop kids from being able to ride dirt bikes?

[FZRguy]

No, the idea is to plate a dirt bike or ATV so you can legally ride county roads from trail to trail for a one-time nominal fee ($25 or so). Dirt roads only with speed limit of 35 or less, and you would be subject to rules of the road (legal license age for example) while on such roads.

[#1Townie]

No, the idea is to plate a dirt bike or ATV so you can legally ride county roads from trail to trail for a one-time nominal fee ($25 or so). Dirt roads only with speed limit of 35 or less, and you would be subject to rules of the road (legal license age for example) while on such roads.

Ummmm.... You say no but then say it would require you to have a license. That would be a yes.

Lots of kids in rural areas use dirt bikes to get to their friends house because it could be miles away.

This legislation is written by people who just don't get it. Either by city livers who visit the rural area or moved there and are angry with dirt bikes.

We deal with this here all the time. Bay area folk move out here and start messing with the dirt bikes. Leave the kids alone Damnit!

[FZRguy]

This bill changes nothing regarding kids and dirt bikes, and it’s completely optional for adults. You can continue to ride public land in Colorado with an OHV sticker (with or without kids) just like we always have. For those that have an operator license, you can choose to get a plate and title for $25 and legally ride dirt county roads without worry of getting busted. A valid title also opens up finance options for your brand new $8k dirt bike. A title also is very helpful in proving ownership if your brand new $8k dirt bike happens to be stolen. There is no downside to this bill for dirt riders.

[longrider]

Just a quick note, titles are already in place. All new dirt bikes will be issued a title when sold. Used will have a title when sold by a dealer. There is a system for present owners to get a title fairly easily and while the intent is for all off road vehicles to have titles the truth is plenty of private sales will still happen without one. It is only mandatory if you are trying to get a plate (assuming this bill passes) or when trading in to a dealer.

[big_sur]

I suppose that's nice for a lot of folks that don't get out much, but as someone who does a good amount of exploring the backcountry on a (plated) dirt bike, being able to ride 40 and under roads isn't going to help you connect stuff all that much, especially if it's in the hands of counties to designate what roads you're actually allowed on. There are very few roads in the middle of nowhere with a 35 mph speed limit.

Second, it requires insurance, headlights, tailights, etc so at this point, you might as well just plate the thing and drop all the OHV restrictions so it's just a motorcycle and you can do whatever any other legal vehicle can do. Having a fully plated bike also opens up A LOT more trails and jeep roads.

Honestly, it seems like this is going to be a PITA for those of us who have gone to the trouble of plating bikes already as we're probably going to get hassled for doing 55 legally. It also seems like the first logical step to making it harder to plate an OHV. "Well we gave you guys HB15-1054 so why are you so worried about further restrictions on plating OHV's, they're obviously a separate class of vehicle..."

[FZRguy]

If I was planning on riding lots of county roads, I'd just buy a street legal DS. Street legal ain't gonna happen for a YZ125 and not interested in that anyway. Here's the bill text and seems reasonable for crossing a road (like Rampart Range), or ride down the road 1/4 mile to the next trail.

Concerning The Regulation Of Off-Highway Vehicles For Operation On Certain Roadways, And, In Connection Therewith, Authorizing The Registration Of Off-Highway Vehicles With The Department Of Revenue. The bill authorizes a person to drive an off-highway vehicle on a county roadway if the person has a driver's license and obeys the rules of the road. Off-highway vehicles are subject to the law against careless driving and a speed limit of 40 miles per hour unless local authorities raise it.


The bill also authorizes a person to register an off-highway vehicle with the department of revenue, which issues license plates to registered vehicles. If a person registers an off-highway vehicle, the person may drive on county roads, as approved by the board of county commissioners. A person must comply with the following to operate a registered off-highway vehicle on a roadway:

• The vehicle must have insurance;
• The vehicle must display the license plate issued by the department;
• The driver must wear eye glasses or a helmet with eye protection;
• The vehicle must have brakes, a head lamp (if driven at night), and tail lights; and
• The driver and any passenger must wear a helmet if both are under 18 years of age.
• The license plate fee;
• The motorist insurance identification fee; and
• A registration fee of $10.

A county may authorize and regulate the use of off-highway vehicles, authorize people to drive on roads without a driver's license, and enter into cooperative agreements with the federal government to enforce off-highway vehicle ordinances. A county must publish a map of all roadways available for off-highway vehicle use. Violations are classified as class B traffic infractions, with a penalty of $15 to $100 and no license suspension points. Except for off-highway vehicles used for agriculture, all off-highway vehicles must get a certificate of title by July 1, 2016. The penalties for this requirement are phased in until 2017.

[#1Townie]

That whole thing looks like a giant rip off. I don't see the point. Why should I need a license plate on my cr250?

Just another way for the state to take money from you.

[TFOGGuys]

That whole thing looks like a giant rip off. I don't see the point. Why should I need a license plate on my cr250?

Just another way for the state to take money from you.

Under the current system, if you ride your (properly stickered and Forest Service legal) CR250 across a county road to connect a trail, you're looking at fines up to $500, and a jail sentence of up to 30 days for operating an unregistered vehicle on a public road. This bill is improving access for trail riders, will allow small towns to benefit because dirt riders can go into town for groceries or whatever, and doesn't change any current requirements for off road only bikes.

[Skitz]

If this passes, will the bikes also be subject to noise regulations?

[FZRguy]

No, it has nothing to do with noise. As far as I know, there are no dB regs for BLM or FS land unless you are riding an event or race where they test. A quiet bike will keep our trails open a lot longer than a loud exhaust will tho.

[TFOGGuys]

The department of Parks and Wildlife has been conducting courtesy sound checks at popular trail heads for the last several years. The limits are 99 dB for bikes 1998 and older, 96 dB for bikes newer than 1998. They don't issue tickets at the courtesy checks. They will, however, write up flagrant violations on the trail, usually in conjuntion with no sticker/no spark arrestor tickets.