I do most of my riding beginning at my home in northwest Tucson. We live on a dirt road and I can go for many miles without riding on paved roads.

My ATV is street legal, registered, and insured with State Farm.

Almost all the roads in this area have wide shoulders. When I am riding these roads it is difficult the resist riding the shoulder. I cannot find the relevent laws on the web.

I guess I would be legal if I were on a horse or tractor.

I've only been doing this a for a couple of weeks now. 24 hours on new ATV.

I ride through three jurisdictions. Marana PD, Tucson PD, and Pima Sheriff.

Will I eventually get cited for this? Should I stay on the pavement?

 

I have been doing it for a couple of years now and see people doing it all the time, I am also street legal, the only problem that I see is the dust that you kick up that blocks a drivers vision. Driving on the road also eats up your tires faster.

 

DD,

Kicking up the dust is a good point. Sometimes I forget and am surprised when I see the dust trail I am leaving.

I try to be as invisible as possible when I ride around my neighborhood. I (almost) always observe the speed limit which is 25 or 15 on the dirt streets. If I have to get on a paved road like Tangerine, Thornydale, or Cortaro Farms, I usually go at least 35 for a short distance. I try to avoid this.

Have you ever been stopped by police? If yes, why did they say they stopped you and did you get cited?

 

I am not from Arizona but I am there alot. It is to my understanding that as long as your quad is registered and legal you can ride anywhere. Except for private or Gov. Property. Wish we had that here. They won't even transfer title's on an offroad vehicle here. You have to get A bill of sale and hand down the original owner's title.

 

Hey MAged, we meet again. That's different about your off road registration.
I was searching for AZ law and how close you can ride to someones home. I think it's 1/4 mile.
I was interested in "sv"s post. Driving on pavement vs gravel,dust, glass, metal, etc.? Tire wear can't be a major factor when going straight, it's when you don't have a rear differential that tire wear becomes a factor if you are making alot of turns.
I would rather drive on the pavement than get a hunk of metal ruining my tire.

 

When you are in your car in the various jurisdictions you noted, why don't you ask the local cop and/or county sheriff. Those are the guys that are going issuing the citation if you are illegal, besides, there may be a local requirement regardless of the state law. If you get the "it depends" answer, then you are probably okay, but in any event when in any populated area drive like you were taking your driving test with the cop next to you. High speed, loud pipe and back and forth at all hours and any good graces will quickly disappear, for everyone - but you know that.

Question for you. Where did you get the turn signals and flasher units for your machine. Horn and windshield are easy, but the turn signals are harder, even though most mfgrs make their machines for sale overseas with them from the factory.

 

Jim Ja - that will not always work. I have asked various law enforcement questions such as that and a few that don't know the answer will simply say "I'll give you a ticket". I have even had a few tell me they'll give me a ticket simply because they don't like ATV's. And I'm not some kid out causing trouble, I'm a clean shaven, no tattoos, middle aged average white guy. Granted, I am probable taking about the exception rather than the rule, but they are out there.

 

Turn signals aren't required, arm signals are ok.

Came over a hill the other day and there was a patrol car stopped in the middle of the narrow dirt road. He was a Marana PD Sgt. turning into his driveway. He had just bought a used ATV similar to mine.

He said it was unlikely he would stop me unless I was speeding 10-15 mph over the limit.

 

Instead of asking the local constabulary one might be ahead to get in contact with the local prosecutor who handles the traffic court cases. He might be able to provide you with the applicable code sections in regards to this type of thing better than the cops. That or arrange a sit down with an attorney who handles traffic cases. He wouldn't charge you but for an hour or half an hour maybe. Far less than the price of a ticket and definitely less than his price for defending i.e. getting you out of one.

I would want to know what the actual code sections of the law are concerning the matter are rather than relying on the discretion or frankly the whims of individual officers. Sooner or later you're going to run into some cop who thinks he's the law and things are going to get ugly. In such a case you are going to want to have the actual code section on your side so that when you appear before the judge in court you can cite it and make Mr. Jackboot look like the jackass that he is. Nothing like seeing a cop getting dressed down in court in by an annoyed Judge.

I'd also add as a general rule to NEVER take legal advice from a cop. It's a good way to end up behind bars.