Shawano County Sheriff George Lenzner said he hasn’t received any negative feedback on earlier proposals to ban ATV and UTV drivers from drinking and driving on county roads. However, a few other suggestions might not be seen in the same light.
Lenzner told the county’s public safety committee on Dec. 4 he will soon sit down with corporation counsel to craft the exact wording of proposed ordinance changes.
“There are getting more and more on the roadway … so I think we need to make some changes and make stuff a little safer so that we don’t start having more issues,” he said. “I don’t think we should wait like we do with (state Highway) 29 and (County Roads) MMM and U, where we have to have six, seven fatalities before the state will come in and fix the roadway.”
He suggested four changes:
• Anyone 16 or older must have a valid driver’s license to operate a UTV on county roads.
• Children ages 12-15 must be accompanied by an adult with valid driver’s license to operate ATVs on roadways. State law prohibits these younger children from operating UTVs on roadways.
• No open intoxicants would be allowed while an ATV or UTV is operated on a road.
• ATV or UTV users on county roads must have liability insurance coverage consistent with that required for automobile operators. They must also carry proof of insurance.
“The majority of them (ATV and UTV users) don’t cause us a problem. We’re not really up in ATV/UTV calls here,” Lenzner said. “It’s always that 10% that cause the issues, and a lot of them are the same people that caused the issues before we allowed them on the roadway.”
He reiterated the changes would only govern those using the vehicles on county roads. They would not be in effect for drivers on trails or private property.
The sheriff said he scoured several other counties’ ordinances, and some were even more restrictive than his suggestions.
The city of Shawano is also considering changes to its laws, and the two government entities will work together to coordinate their proposals.
“It would be nice if we both are the same, so that you’re not changing the law if you’re in the city or going out of the city,” Lenzner said.
He reminded committee members that ATVs and UTVs are recreational vehicles, and DNR laws are based on that. It’s only when municipalities began allowing them on roadways that non-recreational vehicle laws began to be made.
Lenzner said he would also talk with corporation counsel about changes to county ordinances to allow for citations for such things as speeding, operating after revocation, operating without a valid driver’s license, etc.
“If we have a UTV in a 35 mph zone going 70 mph … you can’t give them a speeding ticket, because it’s not a motor vehicle,” he said. “Our ordinance says they have to conform, but our ordinance does not state that you’re going to get a fine for it or anything. You could give a DNR citation for failure to obey a regulatory sign, but I was thinking you’d create a county ordinance.”
When questioned by Supervisor Jeremy Gretzinger, Lenzner said the proposed ordinance would not affect ATV or UTV drivers on roads for agricultural purposes.
Lenzner said he hopes to have the proposed ordinance ready for the committee’s February meeting, with the county board to act on it before trails open in the spring.
kpasson@newmedia-wi.com
Sheriff discusses proposed laws for ATV/UTV users driving on county roads
