I was informed yesterday by a law officer while at a local riding area that a new law had been passed on July 1 2011 reguarding kids and atvs. He said no one under the age of 16 can ride or operate an atv on public or PRIVATE land with or without a helment. I am all for safety. My kids (9 & 12) have been riding (SUPERVISED) with me (on their own atvs) since they were 6. The problem I have is that my 12yo is 6' 180lb and hes to big for a 90cc. I also dont think the law should apply on private or farm land. The officer said the law did not apply to motorcycles. My 9yo was riding a drz 110, and the officer said he didnt require a helment which is crazy. The law was passed after an 11yo was killed on an atv.

 

if it's true, then you need to contact your rep and let them know that the current statute is inherently dangerous. the reps are ignorant, which means uneducated, of the atv sizes as compared to the different sizes of kids. plead with them to use common sense and stop the insanity of the extremists. next time, ask the officer for the law number/bill number. By God you're the parent! they can't legislate that. but it sounds like they're trying!

 

Massachusetts did something similar not too long ago. The increasing regulations are why I ride NH and ME. Their statutes make more sense than the kind of legislation your state and Mass. have passed. I've seen 8 year olds that have received the proper training and parental oversight that ride better than some of the 16-20 year olds that started later in life. These laws never take experience into consideration.

 

It would make more sense to have a size limit like the ones at an amusement park. ex: you have to be 48" to ride this ride.

 

similiar laws (worse) here in massachusetts-
The atv laws got real out of line after an 8yo got killed while he was riding double with an older kid- it's called "sean's law"

basically- sean's parents want everyone to be punished for riding atv's because either they or the people responsible for killing their kid was not riding responsible.

kids getting killed on skateboards, mountain biking, skiing, water sports and during football / soccer games... but one parent with a tragic story is all it takes to ruin it for everyone else.

I have an 8yo- I would be devastated if that had happened to him also- but I wouldn't be looking to change laws because of it. Some people just think they know better than everyone else.

 

As usual another cop that's full of **** and doesn't know the laws he's supposed to enforce. The law doesn't even apply to kids on private land and when on public land they just need a safety course certification and safety gear while under a parents supervision. Chandler's Law - The Law

 

here in mass- any kid under 12 is out right banned 100%- does not matter if it's your property or not- you'll get a citation if a cop see's it or worse, DSS will probably get involved after the 2nd offense.

between 12-16yo can only ride a max of 90cc.

 

Says here for Mass. that 10-12 is ok on the parents land while supervised by an adult. Massachusetts State ATV Information Still a bs law, I could never live in a commie state like that. Liberals are going to be the downfall of our country with all their stupid laws. Whatever happened to personal responsibility? I should be the one making the decisions for myself and my children, not the government. My daughter is 12 and rides a 230E quadrunner and my son is 6 and rides a lt50.