Village of Soldiers Grove, WI Vehicles, All-Terrain and Utility-Terrain

The provisions of this section shall apply to the areas designated in subsection (4) below, including all roadways within the jurisdiction of the County. The provisions of this section shall be enforced by the Crawford County Sheriff's Department.

Adoption of this section shall not prohibit any law enforcement officer or DNR warden from proceeding under any other ordinance, regulation, statute, law or order that pertains to the subject matter addressed under this section.

(3)

LIMITATIONS. The following limitations apply on all areas designated in subsection (4) of this section:

Speed. No ATV/UTV shall be operated at a speed greater than 35 miles per hour on any County Trunk Highway, Town or Village road or street. Each Town or Village may establish a lower speed limit on its ATV/UTV routes within its jurisdiction.

Lights. No ATV/UTV may be operated on any designated route or trail without fully functional headlights, taillights, and brake lights. Every ATV/UTV being operated on any designated route or trail must display a lighted headlamp and tail lamp at all times.

Routes - Roadway Only. On any public roadway designated as an ATV/UTV route, all ATV/UTV operation is authorized only for the extreme right side of the roadway except that left turns may be made from any part of the roadway which is safe given prevailing conditions. All ATVs and UTVs must operate in single file. Operation on paved shoulders intended for bicycles or pedestrians, gravel shoulders, grassy in-slope, ditches or other highway rights-of-way is prohibited.

(d)

Trails - Off-Road Right-of-Way Only. On any off-road public corridor designated as an ATV/UTV trail, all ATV/UTV operation is authorized only within the marked trail designated within the right-of-way adjacent to a state, county, town or village highway, road or street. All ATVs and UTVs must operate in single file. No operation is allowed on any trail within the right-of-way during inclement weather, if the trail material is unstable or is marked as closed.

(e)

Hours of Operation. No ATV/UTV may be operated on any designated route or trail between the hours of 1:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. daily.

(f)

Age, License and Protective Headgear. On any designated ATV/UTV route or trail, all operators must be 16 years of age or older and have a valid driver's license. No person under the age of 18 may operate or be a passenger of an ATV/UTV on any designated route or trail without wearing approved protective headgear.

(g)

Noise. No ATV/UTV may be operated on any designated route if that ATV/UTV does not meet all applicable Wisconsin State noise pollution standards.

(h)

Insurance. All ATVs/UTVs operating on any designated ATV/UTV route or trail or on any County trunk highway must have proof of liability insurance for the ATV/UTV being operated.

(i)

Registration. All ATVs/UTVs being operated on any designated route or trail shall meet the registration requirements of the State of Wisconsin and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

(j)

Activities Prohibited. No competitive events or any other type of contest shall be held, conducted or performed on any ATV/UTV route or trail.

(k)

Operation. ATV/UTV operation on designated routes and trails shall be in accordance with the provisions of the Wisconsin State Statutes, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation Administrative Code, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Administrative Code and all applicable municipal ordinances.

(4)

DESIGNATION OF ATV/UTV ROUTES AND TRAILS.

State and County Trunk Highways. ATV/UTV routes on State and County Trunk Highways and ATV/UTV trails on off-road public corridors adjacent to State and County Trunk Highways shall be designated and approved by the Crawford County Board, except that permits for existing routes or trails may be renewed without further action by the County Board. Any modifications to a designated ATV and UTV route or trail shall be approved by the Crawford County Board. A copy of those ATV and UTV routes and trails, along with a map showing their location(s), shall be kept on file at the Crawford County Sheriff's Office and at the Highway Department. The Crawford County Highway Department shall be responsible for signage and the establishment of speed limits regulating ATVs and UTVs. The Crawford County Highway Department shall retain the sole authority for the closure or termination of any ATV/UTV route on the State and County Trunk Highway System.

(1)

Designated ATV/UTV routes or trails on or adjacent to County roadways may be closed at the discretion of the Crawford County Highway Commissioner or his/her designee.

(2)

The Crawford County Highway Commissioner shall have the authority to suspend operation on any highway or right-of-way for up to 90 days due to hazard, construction, or emergency conditions in any highway segment designated as an ATV/UTV route or trail. The Crawford County Highway Commissioner shall also have the authority to designate for up to 90 days alternate routes or trails for any of the above authorized highway segments that might be so closed.

(3)

Applications for the initiation of new routes and trails or alteration to existing routes, trails or crossings shall be submitted to the Crawford County Highway Department for processing and submission to the Crawford County Board.

(4)

ATV/UTV routes on bridges shall be designated and approved by the Crawford County Board following §§ 23.33(4)(d)3.b and 23.33(11)(am)3, Wis. Stats.

The Village authorizes the operation of ATVs and UTVs on a highway bridge that is not part of the national system of interstate and defense highways that is 1,000 feet in length or less in length and located within the territorial boundaries of the Village. ATV and UTV operators shall be required to do all of the following when crossing a bridge:

Cross the bridge in the most direct manner practicable and at a place where no obstruction prevents a quick and safe crossing.

Stay as far to the right of the roadway or shoulder as practicable.

Stop the vehicle prior to the crossing.

Yield the right-of-way to other vehicles, pedestrians, and electric personal assistive mobility devices using the roadway or shoulder.

Exit the highway as quickly and safely as practicable after crossing the bridge.

Town and Village Roads and Streets. ATV/UTV routes on Town and Village roadways and ATV/UTV trails on off-road public corridors adjacent to Town and Village roadways shall be designated, established and approved by the respective Town Board of Supervisors or the Village Board of Trustees. Any modifications to a designated ATV and UTV route or trail shall be approved by the Town Board of Supervisors or the Village Board of Trustees. A copy of those ATV and UTV routes or trails, along with a map showing their location, shall be kept on file at the Town Hall or Village Hall with a copy also filed at the Crawford County Sheriff's Department and Highway Office. The respective Town Board of Supervisors or the Village Board of Trustees shall be responsible for overseeing signage on every route and trail designated within its jurisdiction and for the establishment of speed limits regulating ATVs and UTVs and may establish fewer allowed hours of operation within their jurisdiction. The Town Board of Supervisors or the Village Board of Trustees shall retain the sole authority for the closure or termination of any ATV/UTV route or trail.

(1)

The respective Town Board of Supervisors or the Village Board of Trustees shall have the authority to suspend operation on any road or street for up to 90 days due to hazard, construction, or emergency conditions in any highway segment listed above. The Town Board of Supervisors or the Village Board of Trustees shall also have the authority to designate for up to 90 days alternate routes and trails for any of the above authorized road segments that might be so closed.

Crossings. Crossings for approved trails established across any public roadway are required to be permitted by the governmental agency having jurisdiction over that roadway.

(5)

ROUTE and TRAIL SIGNS. Routes: Every area authorized as an all-terrain vehicle/utility-terrain vehicle route shall be designated by an all-terrain vehicle/utility-terrain vehicle route sign having a reflectorized white all-terrain vehicle symbol, bordered, and message on a reflectorized green background with a minimum size of 24 inches by 18 inches with a directional arrow, where appropriate, placed at the beginning of an ATV/UTV route and at such locations and intervals as necessary to enable the ATV/UTV operators to follow the route. Existing eighteen-inch by eighteen-inch signs shall be allowed until replacement is required. Trails: Every area authorized as an all-terrain vehicle/utility-terrain vehicle trail shall be designated by an all-terrain vehicle/utility-terrain vehicle trail sign having a reflectorized white all-terrain vehicle symbol, bordered, and message on a reflectorized brown background with a minimum size of 18 inches by 18 inches with a directional arrow, where appropriate, placed at the beginning of an ATV/UTV trail and at such locations and intervals as necessary to enable the ATV/UTV operators to follow the trail.

State and County Trunk Highways. All required designated route or trail signs and posts shall be paid for by the ATV/UTV club requesting the route. All signs and posts shall be installed by the Crawford County Highway Department at the direction of the Highway Commissioner or his designee.

Town and Village Roads and Streets. All required designated route or trail signs and posts shall be paid for by the ATV/UTV club requesting the route. Signs shall be erected by the club at locations approved by the respective Town Board of Supervisors or the Village Board of Trustees.

All routes or trails shall be signed and posted in accordance with the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and all other applicable local guidelines.

(d)

No sign may be mounted on any existing County sign post, unless authorized by the Crawford County Highway Commissioner or designee.

(e)

No person may erect, remove, obscure, or deface any official designated route or trail sign unless authorized by the Crawford County Highway Commissioner or respective Town Board of Supervisors or the Village Board of Trustees or its designee.

(f)

No person shall operate an ATV/UTV contrary to any authorized and official posted sign.

(6)

PENALTIES. The penalty for violating any subsection of this section shall be according to the following schedule, plus the cost of damages or restoration and plus court costs:

The penalty for a violation of subsections (3)(c) and (3)(d) shall be not more than $200.

The penalty for a violation of subsections (3)(b), (e), (f), (g), (h), (i) and (j) shall be not more than $100.

The penalty for a violation of any other provision of this section for which no specific penalty is specified shall be not more than $50.

(7)

JUVENILE PENALTIES. Any juvenile who violates this section shall be subject to the forfeitures prescribed in subsection (6) of this section except that the provisions for the incarceration in jail for the nonpayment of forfeiture shall not apply to juveniles.