Subdivision 1.Operation on roads and rights-of-way.

(a) Unless otherwise allowed in sections 84.92 to 84.928 or by local ordinance under paragraph (k), a person shall not operate an all-terrain vehicle in this state along or on the roadway, shoulder, or inside bank or slope of a public road right-of-way of a trunk, county state-aid, or county highway.

(b) A person may operate a class 1 all-terrain vehicle in the ditch or the outside bank or slope of a trunk, county state-aid, or county highway unless prohibited under paragraph (d) or (f).

(c) A person may operate a class 1 all-terrain vehicle designed by the manufacturer for off-road use to be driven by a steering wheel and equipped with operator and passenger seat belts and a roll-over protective structure or a class 2 all-terrain vehicle:

(1) within the public road right-of-way of a county state-aid or county highway on the right shoulder or the extreme right-hand side of the road and left turns may be made from any part of the road if it is safe to do so under the prevailing conditions, unless prohibited under paragraph (d) or (f);

(2) on the bank, slope, or ditch of a public road right-of-way of a trunk, county state-aid, or county highway but only to access businesses or make trail connections, and left turns may be made from any part of the road if it is safe to do so under the prevailing conditions, unless prohibited under paragraph (d) or (f); and

(3) on the bank or ditch of a public road right-of-way on a designated class 2 all-terrain vehicle trail.

(d) A road authority as defined under section 160.02, subdivision 25, may after a public hearing restrict the use of all-terrain vehicles in the public road right-of-way under its jurisdiction.

(e) The restrictions in paragraphs (a), (d), (h), (i), and (j) do not apply to the operation of an all-terrain vehicle on the shoulder, inside bank or slope, ditch, or outside bank or slope of a trunk, interstate, county state-aid, or county highway:

(1) that is part of a funded grant-in-aid trail; or

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(2) when the all-terrain vehicle is owned by or operated under contract with:

(i) a road authority as defined under section 160.02, subdivision 25; or

(ii) a publicly or privately owned utility or pipeline company and used for work on utilities or pipelines.

(f) The commissioner may limit the use of a right-of-way for a period of time if the commissioner determines that use of the right-of-way causes:

(1) degradation of vegetation on adjacent public property;

(2) siltation of waters of the state;

(3) impairment or enhancement to the act of taking game; or

(4) a threat to safety of the right-of-way users or to individuals on adjacent public property.

The commissioner must notify the road authority as soon as it is known that a closure will be ordered. The notice must state the reasons and duration of the closure.

(g) A person may operate an all-terrain vehicle registered for private use and used for agricultural purposes on a public road right-of-way of a trunk, county state-aid, or county highway in this state if the all-terrain vehicle is operated on the extreme right-hand side of the road, and left turns may be made from any part of the road if it is safe to do so under the prevailing conditions.

(h) A person shall not operate an all-terrain vehicle within the public road right-of-way of a trunk, county state-aid, or county highway from April 1 to August 1 in the agricultural zone unless the vehicle is being used exclusively as transportation to and from work on agricultural lands. This paragraph does not apply to an agent or employee of a road authority, as defined in section 160.02, subdivision 25, or the Department of Natural Resources when performing or exercising official duties or powers.

(i) A person shall not operate an all-terrain vehicle within the public road right-of-way of a trunk, county state-aid, or county highway between the hours of one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise, except on the right-hand side of the right-of-way and in the same direction as the highway traffic on the nearest lane of the adjacent roadway.

(j) A person shall not operate an all-terrain vehicle at any time within the right-of-way of an interstate highway or freeway within this state.

(k) A county, city, or town, acting through its governing body, may by ordinance allow a person to operate an all-terrain vehicle on a public road or street under its jurisdiction to access businesses and residences and to make trail connections.

Subd. 1a.Crossing public road right-of-way.

(a) An all-terrain vehicle may make a direct crossing of a public road right-of-way provided:

(1) the crossing is made at an angle of approximately 90 degrees to the direction of the road and at a place where no obstruction prevents a quick and safe crossing;

(2) the vehicle is brought to a complete stop before crossing the shoulder or main-traveled way of the road;

(3) the driver yields the right-of-way to all oncoming traffic that constitutes an immediate hazard;

(4) in crossing a divided road, the crossing is made only at an intersection of the road with another public road; and

(5) if the crossing is made between the hours of one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise or in conditions of reduced visibility, only if both front and rear lights are on.

(b) An all-terrain vehicle may be operated upon a bridge, other than a bridge that is part of the main-traveled lanes of an interstate highway, or roadway shoulder or inside bank of a public road right-of-way when required for the purpose of avoiding obstructions to travel or environmentally sensitive areas when no other method of avoidance is possible; provided the all-terrain vehicle is operated in the extreme right-hand lane, the entrance to the roadway is made within 100 feet of the bridge, obstacle, or sensitive area, and the crossing is made without undue delay.

(c) A person shall not operate an all-terrain vehicle upon a public street or highway unless the vehicle is equipped with at least one headlight and one taillight, each of minimum candlepower as prescribed by rules of the commissioner, and with brakes conforming to standards prescribed by rule of the commissioner, and all of which are subject to the approval of the commissioner of public safety.

(d) An all-terrain vehicle may be operated upon a public road right-of-way other than as provided by paragraph (b) in an emergency during the period of time when and at locations where the condition of the roadway renders travel by automobile impractical.

(e) Chapters 169 and 169A apply to the operation of all-terrain vehicles upon streets and highways, except for those provisions relating to required equipment and except those provisions which by their nature have no application.

(f) A sled, trailer, or other device being towed by an all-terrain vehicle must be equipped with reflective materials as required by rule of the commissioner.

(g) A driver’s license is not required to operate an all-terrain vehicle along or on a public road right-of-way if the right-of-way encompasses a trail administered by the commissioner and designated for all-terrain vehicle use or multiple use.

(h) A road authority as defined in section 160.02, subdivision 25, may by permit designate corridor access trails on public road rights-of-way for purposes of accessing established all-terrain vehicle trails. A driver’s license is not required to operate an all-terrain vehicle on a designated corridor access trail.

Subd. 2.Operation generally.

A person may not drive or operate an all-terrain vehicle:

(1) at a rate of speed greater than reasonable or proper under the surrounding circumstances;

(2) in a careless, reckless, or negligent manner so as to endanger or to cause injury or damage to the person or property of another;

(3) without headlight and taillight lighted at all times if the vehicle is equipped with headlight and taillight;

(4) without a functioning stoplight if so equipped;

(5) in a tree nursery or planting in a manner that damages or destroys growing stock;

(6) without a brake operational by either hand or foot;

(7) with more than one person on the vehicle, except as allowed under section 84.9257;

(8) at a speed exceeding ten miles per hour on the frozen surface of public waters within 100 feet of a person not on an all-terrain vehicle or within 100 feet of a fishing shelter; or

(9) in a manner that violates operation rules adopted by the commissioner.

Subd. 3.

[Repealed, 1994 c 615 s 28]

Subd. 4.Operation prohibited on airports.

Except for employees and agents while acting incident to the operation of the airport, it is unlawful for a person to drive or operate an all-terrain vehicle on an airport defined in section 360.013, subdivision 39.

Subd. 5.Organized contests; using highways and public lands and waters.

(a) Nothing in this section or chapter 169 prohibits the use of all-terrain vehicles within the right-of-way of a state trunk or county state-aid highway or upon public lands or waters under the jurisdiction of the commissioner of natural resources, in an organized contest or event, subject to the consent of the official or board having jurisdiction over the highway or public lands or waters.

(b) In permitting the contest or event, the official or board having jurisdiction may prescribe restrictions or conditions as they may deem advisable.

(c) Notwithstanding section 84.9256, subdivision 1, paragraph (b), a person under 12 years of age may operate an all-terrain vehicle in an organized contest on public lands or waters, if the all-terrain vehicle has an engine capacity of 90cc or less, the person complies with section 84.9256, subdivision 1, paragraph (h), and the person is supervised by a person 18 years of age or older.

Subd. 6.Regulation by political subdivisions.

(a) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, a city or town, acting through its governing body, may by resolution or ordinance prohibit the operation of all-terrain vehicles on city streets or town roads in its jurisdiction provided the regulations are otherwise consistent with sections 84.92 to 84.928.

(b) A county or city, or a town acting by its town board, may regulate the operation of all-terrain vehicles on public lands, waters, and property under its jurisdiction other than public road rights-of-way within its boundaries, by resolution or ordinance of the governing body and by giving appropriate notice, provided:

(1) the regulations must be consistent with sections 84.92 to 84.928 and rules adopted under section 84.924;

(2) an ordinance may not impose a fee for the use of public land or water under the jurisdiction of either the Department of Natural Resources or other agency of the state, or for the use of an access to it owned by the state or a county or a city; and

(3) an ordinance may not require an all-terrain vehicle operator to possess a motor vehicle driver’s license while operating an all-terrain vehicle.

(c) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, a county board by ordinance may allow the operation of all-terrain vehicles on the road right-of-way shoulder, or inside bank or slope of a county highway or county state-aid highway, if:

(1) the highway is in the agricultural zone; or

(2) safe operation in the ditch or outside slope is impossible, and the county posts the appropriate notice.

Subd. 7.

[Repealed, 1989 c 331 s 26]

Subd. 8.

[Repealed, 2007 c 131 art 1 s 96]