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BLACKSBURG—A new law restricting all-terrain vehicle use in Virginia sounds good on the surface, but lacks the strength to make major changes in the way most people use ATV’s says a Virginia Cooperative Extension safety specialist.
The law, passed by the General Assembly, and in effect July 1, requires riders to be at least 12 years old and to wear state-police-approved helmets, says Glen Hetzel, safety specialist and agricultural engineer at Virginia Tech. But a number of exemptions take the teeth out of those and other requirements. “This law is a start in the area of ATV safety.” Mr. Hetzel said, “but on the other side of the coin, right now you can look at it and say we really don’t have much—and you’re probably right because of the exemptions.”
The law itself includes five basic provisions: 1) ATV’s are prohibited on public roads; 2) anyone younger than 16 and older than 12 may not operate an ATV with an engine size larger than 90cc; 3) no one may operate an ATV without an approved helmet; 4) operating an ATV on someone else’s property without written consent is prohibited; and 5) operating an ATV with a passenger is prohibited.
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