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Laws and Safety
SB 742 Information
Click the link to view highlights of the bill. To view the entire bill, click here. All vehicles which are operated on public lands must be registered with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). The registration fee is $50 per vehicle, and is valid for a two-year period. The OHV fees are used for acquisition of new OHV areas, development and operation of existing OHV areas, enforcement of the rules and regulations, and protection of the natural resources. DMV will issue a Green or Red Sticker for off-highway vehicles. Vehicles which can be operated both on- and off-highway will be given a street-legal license. OHV Registration Requirements Street-Legal License Plate: If you want to operate a 4-wheel drive vehicle or dual-purpose motorcycle on-highway and off-highway, you must have a street-legal license plate. The Green Sticker Or Red Sticker: If you are going to operate a motorized vehicle off-highway only, you must have either a Green Sticker or a Red Sticker that has been issued by the DMV. The Green Sticker allows vehicles to operate on public land all year. The Red Sticker is for motorcycles and ATVs model year 2003 and newer that do not meet the emission standards established by the California Air Resources Board. If the vehicle has a 3 or a C in the eighth position of the Vehicle Identification Number, then it does not meet the emission standards and should be issued a Red Sticker. The Red Sticker is exactly the same as the Green Sticker except that these vehicles can only be operated during certain times of the year. To learn more about the DMV's Red and Green Sticker OHV registration, please click here. To find out when you can operate your vehicle, call the specific riding area that you want to visit or you can follow the link to the Red Sticker Open Riding Schedule. Closed Course Competition: Some race courses can be designated as a closed course. A Transportation Permit must be obtained from DMV to transport your vehicle to and from a race course. Nonresident Permit: You will need to purchase a special Nonresident OHV Permit if you are not a California resident AND your off-highway vehicle or snowmobile is not registered in your home state. Your state's plate or sticker must be clearly visible on the vehicle. To find out where Nonresident OHV Permits can be purchased, please download the following PDF: Nonresident Permit - Vendor List (PDF) - as of 12/5/08 To get more information about the program, please contact a local Ranger or the OHMVR Division at: California State Parks — OHMVR Division, Nonresident Permit Program Possession of Alcohol: It is illegal to possess an open container of an alcoholic beverage while riding in or operating an off-highway vehicle. Vehicle Code sections 23220, 23322, 23223, 23225, and 23226, have been amended to include public lands. The intent of these laws is to make the possession of alcohol in a vehicle the same whether you are driving on a highway or off-highway. The laws are designed to reduce alcohol-related accidents, but also allow vehicles such as 4-wheel drives and snowmobiles to transport such items in locked containers or even ice chests if they are secured in a manner that are not accessible to the occupants or the operator. Responsible off-highway vehicle enthusiasts do not drink and drive. ATV Safety Requirements All-terrain vehicle (ATV) operators under 18 years of age must comply with the following California Vehicle Code requirements when operating an ATV on public lands. The Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division (OHMVRD) currently provides funding for ATV safety certificate training for those age 6 through 17. For more information and to sign up for training contact the ATV Safety Institute at (800) 887-2887. CONDITIONS FOR OPERATING: MINORS (a) The person is taking a prescribed safety training course under the direct supervision of a certified all-terrain vehicle safety instructor.CONDITIONS FOR OPERATING: ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS No person under 14 years of age shall operate an all-terrain vehicle on public lands of this state unless the person satisfies one of the conditions set forth in Section 38503 and, in addition, is accompanied by and under the direct supervision of a parent or guardian or is accompanied by and under the direct supervision of an adult who is authorized by the parent or guardian (CVC 38504). 38504.1. (a) Neither a parent or guardian of a child who is under 14 years of age, nor an adult who is authorized by the parent or guardian to supervise that child shall grant permission to, or knowingly allow, that child to operate an all-terrain vehicle in a manner that violates Section 38504. SAFETY HELMET REQUIRED PASSENGERS PROHIBITED OHV Equipment Requirements NOISE LIMITS For more information on noise limits, visit http://www.ohv.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=23037. [CVC 38370 (h) (1)] SPARK ARRESTER (b) A spark arrester affixed to the exhaust system of a vehicle subject to this section shall not be placed or mounted in such a manner as to allow flames or heat from the exhaust system to ignite any flammable material. (c) A spark arrester is a device constructed of nonflammable materials specifically for the purpose of removing and retaining carbon and other flammable particles over 0.0232 of an inch in size from the exhaust flow of an internal combustion engine or which is qualified and rated by the United States Forest Service. (d) Subdivision (a) shall not be applicable to vehicles being operated off the highway in an organized racing or competitive event upon a closed course, which is conducted under the auspices of a recognized sanctioning body and by permit issued by the fire protection authority having jurisdiction (CVC 38366). HEADLAMPS / TAILLAMPS PROHIBITION: WARNING LIGHTS PROHIBITION: USE OF SIREN OHV Operation Requirements SPEED, TURNING, RECKLESS DRIVING SUSPENDED DRIVING PRIVILEGE This is only a partial list of regulations pertaining to OHV’s. For a complete listing, see Division 16.5 of the California Vehicle Code available at DMV offices and at http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/calaw.html. |
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