City Regulates ATV Use

The passed an ATV ordinance that regulates the operation of All Terrain Vehicles including 3-wheelers, 4-wheelers, off-road motorcycles and golf carts. Officials from the Greenprints trails have voiced issues between bicyclists and other users making a need for this change. This ordinance will also allow public safety officers the ability to enforce this new regulation.

The intent of the ordinance is to limit the use of ATVs within the incorporated limits of the city. The council heard the first reading . The third reading was on Monday night’s agenda as a precaution because the actual ordinance was approved and adopted at a called council meeting.

The ordinance states it is unlawful for any person to operate an ATV on the public right-of-way of a road, street or highway, including the traveled portions, banks, ditches, shoulders and medians of a roadway that is not privately owned. ATVs cannot be operated on private property without the permission of the owner or on public property including, but not limited to, public school grounds, park property, playgrounds, recreational areas and cemeteries.

ATVs are also prohibited on the U.S. Department of the Army Corp of Engineers property, according to the ordinance, unless the operator has the written permission of the Allatoona Operations Project Manager.

City-owned trails or segments of trails the city has easement rights are prohibited.

The ordinance states it’s unlawful to operate a golf cart on city-owned property or on which the city has an easement for the use of the property. This does not apply to that property’s owner or guests.

ATVs, however, can be approved by the mayor and the council for city-sanctioned events.

These regulations do not apply to motorboats, any military, fire or law enforcement vehicles, any farm machinery or tractors, self-propelled lawnmowers, snow blowers, garden or lawn tractors while such vehicles are being used exclusively for their designed purposes and motorized wheelchairs.

A person can be charged with a misdemeanor and pay up to a $1000 fine before the Woodstock Municipal Court if he or she violates these terms.

To read the ordinance, see pages 54-59 in the attached PDF.