H. B. 2914


(By Delegates Tucker, Porter, Blair and Rowan)
[Introduced February 7, 2007; referred to the
Committee on Government Organization.]




A BILL to amend and reenact §17F-1-1 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; and to amend said code by adding thereto two new sections, designated §17F-1-10 and §17F-1-11, all relating to the regulation of all-terrain vehicles; prohibiting operation on paved roads or highways; prohibiting operation with a passenger unless allowed under manufacturers' specifications; providing for regulation of all-terrain vehicles by local government authorities; authorizing all-terrain vehicle incident forms; reporting requirements for all-terrain vehicle incidents; and, exempting the Hatfield McCoy Trail.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That §17F-1-1 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended and reenacted; and that said code be amended by adding thereto two new sections, designated §17F-1-10 and §17F-1-11, all to read as follows:
ARTICLE 1. REGULATION OF ALL-TERRAIN VEHICLES.
§17F-1-1. Acts prohibited by operator; penalties for violations.
(a) No An all-terrain vehicle is prohibited: may be operated in this state:
(1) On any interstate highway, except by public safety personnel responding to emergencies;
(2) On any paved road or highway, with a center line or more than two lanes, except for the purpose of crossing the road, street or highway, if:
(A) The crossing is made at an angle of approximately ninety degrees to the direction of the highway and at a place where no obstruction prevents a quick and safe crossing;
(B) The vehicle is brought to a complete stop before crossing the shoulder or main traveled way of the highway;
(C) The operator yields his or her right-of-way to all oncoming traffic that constitutes an immediate potential hazard; and
(D) Both the headlight and taillight are illuminated when the crossing is made if the vehicle is so equipped;
(3) With more than one a passenger unless more passengers are a passenger is allowed under manufacturers' recommendations;
(4) With a passenger under the age of eighteen, unless the operator has at a minimum a level two intermediate driver's license or its equivalent or is eighteen years of age or older;
(5) Unless riders a rider under the age of eighteen are is wearing a size appropriate protective helmets that meet meets the current performance specifications established by the American national standards institute standard, z 90.1, the United States Department of Transportation Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard no. 218 or Snell safety standards for protective headgear for vehicle users;
(6) Anytime from sunset to sunrise without an illuminated headlight or lights and taillights;
(7) Without a manufacturer-installed or equivalent spark arrester and a manufacturer-installed or equivalent muffler in proper working order and properly connected to the vehicle's exhaust system; or
(8) Unless operating in compliance with the provisions of section two of this article;
(b) An all-terrain vehicle may, for the sole purpose of getting from one trail, field or area of operation to another, be operated upon the shoulder of any road, street or highway referred to in subdivision (2), subsection (a) of this section, other than an interstate highway, for a distance not to exceed ten miles, if:
(1) The vehicle is operated at speeds of twenty-five miles per hour or less; and
(2) The vehicle is operated at any time from sunset to sunrise, the all-terrain vehicle must be equipped with headlights and taillights which must be illuminated.
(c) Operation of an all-terrain vehicle in accordance with subsection (b) shall not constitute operation of a motor vehicle on a road or highway of this state as contemplated by the provisions of section seven of this article.
(d) Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter to the contrary, a municipality, county or other political subdivision of the state may authorize the operation of all-terrain vehicles on certain specified roads, streets or highways, which are marked with centerline pavement markings, other than interstate highways, to allow participation in parades, exhibitions and other special events, in emergencies or for specified purposes.
§17F-1-10. All-terrain vehicle incident form.
(a) The Department of Highways, the Division of Motor Vehicles, the State Police and the Governor's Highway Safety Program shall create an all-terrain vehicle incident form. Law enforcement shall complete the form when an all-terrain vehicle is involved in any incident. The incident form shall include, but is not limited to, the following:
(1) The type and cause of the incident;
(2) The location of the incident;
(3) The presence of a passenger on an all-terrain vehicle;
(4) The contact information of the operator of an all-terrain vehicle and any passenger on an all-terrain vehicle;
(5) A description of the all-terrain vehicle, including a statement that a passenger is or is not allowed under manufacturers' recommendations;
(6) A description of the incident;
(7) A description of the injuries; and
(8) The types of safety equipment used by the operator of an all-terrain vehicle and any passenger on an all-terrain vehicle.
(b) When compiling its report as required by section fourteen, article four, chapter seventeen-c of this code, the Department of Highways shall include information on all-terrain vehicle incidents.
§17F-1-11. Hatfield McCoy Regional Recreation Authority exemption.
The provisions of this chapter do not apply to persons legally permitted on designated managed recreation areas as designated by the Hatfield McCoy Regional Recreation Authority.



NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to impose regulations on the use and operation of all-terrain vehicles. Toward this end, the bill contains provisions addressing the following: (1) Prohibiting operation on paved roads or highways; (2) prohibiting operation with a passenger unless allowed under manufacturers' specifications; (3) providing for regulation of all-terrain vehicles by local government authorities; (4) authorizing all-terrain vehicle incident forms; (5) reporting requirements for all-terrain vehicle incidents; and, (6) exempting the Hatfield McCoy Trail.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from the present law, and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.
§17F-1-10 and §17F-1-11 are new; therefore, strike-throughs and underscoring have been omitted.