[Adopted 10-3-2011; amended in its entirety 8-11-2014]
[Amended 7-11-2016; 8-5-2019; 1-6-2020; 6-13-2022]
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
DESIGNATED PUBLIC ROADS
Roads designated by the Board of Supervisors for use by off-road recreational vehicles pursuant to this article. The following road and/or sections of road are hereby designated for use by off-road recreational vehicles:
A. 
Garden District.
(1) 
Wimmer's Gap Road — Route 635; extending for approximately 3.89 miles; beginning at the intersection of Route 638 and Route 635 to the intersection of Route 639 and Route 635.
(2) 
Route 636 for 1.8 miles from the intersection of Route 638 and Route 636 (Chicken Ridge) to the top of White Mountain on Route 636.
(3) 
Route 613 for 4.5 miles from a point beginning at the entrance off of Route 613 to where the old tipple of Dominion Coal Corporation, Mine No. 35 was located to the intersection of Route 613 and Route 616.
(4) 
Route 616 for less than 1/10 of a mile from the intersection of Route 613 and Route 616 to the intersection of Route 616 and Warrior Mine Road (WVA Route 12/4).
(5) 
Approximately a five-mile section of road along State Secondary Route 616 commencing at the intersection of State Route 613 and State Route 616 and terminating along the intersection of State Route 616 and State Route 636.
(6) 
Approximate five-mile section of road along State Secondary Route 636 commencing at the intersection of State Route 616 and State Route 636 and terminating along the intersection of State Route 636 and State Route 638.
(7) 
Wimmer's Gap Road — Route 635, a 3.7-mile section beginning from Laurel Creek East to Bennings Branch.
(8) 
Route 638, Jewell Valley Road, from the intersection of Route 635 and Route 638, five miles east on Route 638.
[Added 12-6-2022]
B. 
Prater District.
(1) 
Sunset Hollow Road — Route 604; extending 3.9 miles; beginning at the intersection of Route 83 and Route 604 to the intersection of Route 604 and Southern Gap Road;
(2) 
Route 604 (Poplar Creek), beginning at the intersection of Route 604 and Route 744 for 2.14 miles then crossing over and continuing into the Rocklick Magisterial District.
(3) 
State Route 718 (Airport Road) for 0.2 miles from the intersection with State Route 744 and State Route 1015, to the intersection with a parking area for wildlife/elk viewing;
(4) 
State Route 744 (Southern Gap Road) for 1.6 miles from the intersection with State Route 718 and State Route 1015, to the intersection with State Route 604 and County Route 3200, continuing through the intersection with State Route 604 and Park Road to the terminus with the Spearhead Coal Canyon Trail trailhead.
(5) 
Greenbrier Road, north on Route 611 extending 1.9 miles beginning at the intersection of Route 611 on to Cindy Fork Road extending 0.01 mile to end of paved route;
(6) 
Old Greenbrier Road, Route 608 extending 3.4 miles beginning at the intersection of Route 611 and Route 608 east to the end of state and County maintenance.
C. 
Rocklick District.
(1) 
Route 604 (Poplar Creek) continuing from Prater District and proceeding 1.14 miles to the intersection of Route 604 and Route 615 (Hoot Owl).
(2) 
Route 615 (Hoot Owl) beginning at the intersection of Route 604 and Route 615 and proceeding 1.25 miles then crossing over and continuing in crossing over into South Grundy District.
(3) 
Route 615 (Hoot Owl) a 1.20-mile section (beginning at the end of the 1.25-mile section of Route 615 described in Road No. 2 above) that is in both South Grundy District and Rocklick District (the center line of this section of Route 615 serves as the boundary between S. Grundy and Rocklick Districts). This 1.20-mile section of Route 615 ends at the beginning of the 0.62-mile section of Route 615 designated below in South Grundy District as Road No. 2 for South Grundy District.
D. 
South Grundy District.
(1) 
Beginning at Southern Gap (intersection of Route 744 and County Route 3200 "Little Prater Road") along 3.36 miles of Route 617 (Little Prater), to the intersection of U.S. Route 460 and then 2.00 miles along U.S. 460 and ending at the entrance to the Bellacinos Shopping Center and Comfort Inn in Grundy, Va.
(2) 
Route 615 last 0.62 miles to the intersection of Route 615 and U.S. 460.
(3) 
U.S. Route 460 for 0.14 miles to the entrance of the parking lot of the Bellacinos shopping lot and the Comfort Inn. (This section of road is included in roads described for Item No. 1 for South Grundy District.)
(4) 
U.S. Route 460 for 0.2 miles beginning at the parking lot of the Bellacino's shopping lot and the Comfort Inn to the intersection with old abandoned Riverside Drive across from the Grundy Bible Church.
(5) 
U.S. 460 from the intersection of U.S. 460 and Old U.S. 460 at signalized intersection at exit to State Route 615 and proceeding west on U.S. Route 460 1.12 miles to the signalized intersection of U.S. Route 460 and Poe Town Road at the end of the 35 mph speed limit.
[Added 6-13-2022]
(6) 
U.S. 460 from the intersection of U.S. 460 and Old U.S. 460 at signalized intersection at exit to State Route 615 and proceeding east on U.S. Route 460 past the intersection of State Route 617 (Little Prater Road) to the end of the 35 mph speed limit.
[Added 6-13-2022]
(7) 
State Route 83 from the intersection of U.S. Route 460 in the Town of Grundy, proceeding east 0.40 mile to the intersection of State Route 83 and T-1004 (Newhouse Branch Road).
[Added 6-13-2022]
(8) 
Within the Town of Grundy, the following roads will be added: Main Street, Maple Street, and Walnut Street from its intersection at Main Street to the intersection of T-1004 (Newhouse Branch Road) and Cinema Street.
[Added 6-13-2022]
OFF-ROAD RECREATIONAL VEHICLES
A two-wheeled, three-wheeled or four-wheeled motor vehicle powered by a gasoline engine, diesel engine or electric motor; and generally characterized by large, low-pressure tires; a seat designed to be straddled by the operator or a four wheeler that includes a side-by-side seat; and handlebars or a steering wheel for steering; that is intended for off-road use by either an individual rider or multiple riders on various types of unpaved terrain. The term does not include "go-carts," "utility vehicles" or "farm utility vehicle" as those terms are defined in Virginia Code § 46.2-100.
PUBLIC ROADS
Any state- or County-maintained roads within the borders of Buchanan County, Virginia.
[Amended 1-6-2020]
A. 
Off-road recreational vehicles may be operated on designated public roads within the boundaries of Buchanan County, Virginia, for any distance where the maximum speed limit is 35 miles per hour or less; and on public roads for a distance of no more than five miles where the maximum speed limit is more than 35 miles per hour. However, such operation of off-road recreational vehicles on public roads shall be restricted and conditioned as follows:
[Amended 6-13-2022]
(1) 
The public roads must be posted with signs that warn motorists that off-road recreational vehicles may be operating on the road; said signs to be posted by the County and approved by the Virginia Department of Transportation; and
(2) 
That off-road recreational vehicles shall only be operated on public roads during daylight hours; and
(3) 
Off-road recreational vehicles, when operating on public roads, obey all rules of the road applicable to other motor vehicles; and
(4) 
Riders of such off-road recreational vehicles shall wear helmets of a type approved by the Superintendent of State Police; and
(5) 
Operators of off-road recreational vehicles shall be licensed drivers 16 years or older; however, no person shall operate any off-road recreational vehicle as provided in this section if his driver's license, whether issued in the commonwealth or in another jurisdiction, has been suspended or revoked.
(6) 
Operators of off-road recreational vehicles that use designated public roads pursuant to this ordinance must first obtain a permit for such use from the Southwest Regional Recreation Authority and pay such fee for such permit as the Southwest Regional Recreation Authority provides.
(7) 
All off-road recreation vehicles operating on public roads designated pursuant to this ordinance shall not exceed a maximum speed of 25 miles per hour.
B. 
Upon adoption of this article the County Administrator is directed to notify in writing the Virginia State Police and all law-enforcement agencies within Buchanan County of the Board of Supervisors' action in adopting this article; a copy of this article shall be included with such written notification; a copy of this article shall be included with written notification. This article shall not take effect to any designated road until all signs have been posted on such designated roads as required pursuant to Subsection A(1) of this section.
[Added 10-1-2018]
A. 
Any person operating or riding in an ATV on the Jewell Valley ATV Trail must obtain a permit. Permits shall be issued for a period of one year and can be renewed by paying the permit renewal fee. The annual permit fee and annual renewal fee will be set by the Buchanan County, Virginia, Board of Supervisors by a separate resolution.
B. 
Any person operating an ATV on the Jewell Valley ATV Trail shall obey all signage on said trails and operate their ATV in a safe manner, complying with any speed limits posted on said Jewell Valley ATV Trail.
C. 
All persons operating an ATV or riding in an ATV on the Jewell Valley ATV Trail must wear helmets. Children under the age of 16 years shall not be permitted to operate an ATV on the Jewell Valley ATV Trail.
D. 
No use or possession of alcohol or illegal drugs shall be permitted upon the Jewell Valley ATV Trail.
E. 
No person shall be permitted on the Jewell Valley ATV Trail during any time other than the operational hours for the trail. The operational hours for the Jewell Valley ATV Trail shall be from dawn to dusk (daylight hours).
F. 
The use of firearms or possession of firearms on the Jewell Valley ATV Trail is strictly prohibited.
G. 
No littering shall be permitted on the Jewell Valley ATV Trail.
H. 
The Jewell Valley ATV Trail is patrolled by uniformed Special Conservators of the Peace. All users of the Jewell Valley ATV Trail shall obey the lawful orders and instructions of the uniformed Special Conservators of the Peace.
I. 
Penalties. Violations of this section shall be treated as Class One misdemeanors, resulting in fines up to $2,500 and/or confinement in jail up to 12 months, within the discretion of the Court.
[Added 10-1-2018]
A. 
Any person fishing in the Jewell Valley Stocked Trout Stream must obtain a fishing permit, which will be sold for a single day or multiple days. The permit fees shall be set by a separate resolution by the Buchanan County Board of Supervisors.
B. 
No persons shall be permitted to fish the Jewell Valley Stocked Trout Stream except during operational hours of the Jewell Valley Stocked Stream.
C. 
The operational hours of the Jewell Valley Stocked Trout Stream shall be from dawn to dusk (daylight hours).
D. 
The Jewell Valley Stocked Trout Stream shall be patrolled by uniformed Special Conservators of the Peace. Any person fishing in the Jewell Valley Stocked Trout Stream shall obey the lawful order and instructions of the uniformed Special Conservators of the Peace.
E. 
No littering shall be permitted on the Jewell Valley Stocked Trout Stream.
F. 
Use or possession of alcoholic beverages or illegal drugs is strictly prohibited on the Jewell Valley Stocked Trout Stream.
G. 
Penalties. Violations of this section shall be treated as Class One misdemeanors, resulting in fines up to $2,500 and/or confinement in jail up to 12 months, within the discretion of the Court.