[Adopted 9-6-2018 by Bill
No. 4-18, effective 10-21-2018]
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
following meanings:
A motorized vehicle designed for and capable of crosscountry
travel on land, water, snow, ice, marsh, swampland, or other natural
terrain. "All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV)" includes:
A.
A four-wheel-drive or low-pressure vehicle;
B.
Motorcycle unrelated to wheeled vehicle;
C.
Amphibious machine;
D.
Snowmobile;
E.
COUNTY
PUBLIC ROAD
R.O.P.S.
Utility task vehicle (UTV).
Board of County Commissioners of Allegany County, Maryland.
All public roads in the Allegany County road inventory exclusive
of municipal roads and state highways.
Rollover protection system.
A.
A person may operate an all-terrain vehicle as defined in this article
on not more than two miles of a public road designated by the County
at a speed of not more than 25 miles per hour for the sole purpose
of gaining access to trails on which the operation of an all-terrain
vehicle is authorized, or to a field, or to another area where the
operation of an all-terrain vehicle is authorized.
B.
A person may operate an all-terrain vehicle to cross a highway at
a right angle at a speed of not more than 25 miles per hour.
C.
A person operating an all-terrain vehicle in accordance with this
article shall be subject to the following specific terms and conditions:
(1)
All applicable speed limits. Operators are put on notice that they
are responsible for abiding by 25 miles-per-hour speed limit, even
if their vehicle is not equipped with an operable speedometer.
(2)
All-terrain vehicles may be operated on a County roadway for a distance
not to exceed two miles.
(3)
The County may, by resolution, close or restrict any specific roads
to all-terrain vehicle use.
(4)
Subject to the regulations contained in this article, only all-terrain
vehicles as defined by the Transportation Article of the Annotated
Code of Maryland are hereby allowed on public roads in accordance
with this article.
(5)
All-terrain vehicles must be registered every year and pay a registration
fee as set forth by the County to operate on County roadways. The
registration sticker must be placed prominently on the rear of the
vehicle.
(6)
All-terrain vehicle operators must have proof of valid liability
insurance covering the vehicle.
(7)
All-terrain vehicle operators must possess a valid driver's
license or be eligible for a driver's license.
(8)
Helmets required. Unless the ATV is equipped with a factory R.O.P.S.,
the operator or passenger of the A TV will not operate on any portion
of the roadway unless the operator and passengers are wearing protective
headgear that meets the standards established by the Maryland Transportation
Administration. In such cases where the ATV is equipped with a factory
R.O.P.S., the operator and passengers will utilize the factory seatbelts
when operating the ATV on any portion of the roadway.
(9)
No passengers are permitted on single-seat all-terrain vehicles.
Passengers on all other all-terrain vehicles are limited to the number
of manufacturer-installed passenger seats of the vehicle.
(10)
All-terrain vehicles must have at least an operating brake light
and headlight when in operation on County roadways.
(11)
All-terrain vehicles must have an operating braking system allowing
the operator to safely control the vehicle.
(12)
All-terrain vehicles must travel single-file on the right-hand
shoulder of the extreme right-hand side of the roadway, and left-hand
turns may be made from any part of the road if it is safe to do so
under the prevailing conditions.
(13)
Failure to abide by any of the above conditions contained in
this article when operating an all-terrain vehicle on County roadways
shall constitute a violation of this article.
A person possessing a valid ATV permit from Garrett County may
operate an ATV upon County roads in accordance with this article,
as long as the registration is valid and the person abides by all
the terms and conditions of this article. Reciprocity will also be
granted to Washington County in the event that Washington County obtains
authorization from the Legislature and enacts a registration and regulation
scheme similar to that of Allegany County and Garrett County.
The County may from time to time by regulation establish the
manner of registration of all-terrain vehicles and the fees for registration
of all-terrain vehicles.
