With that attitude you will find yourself faced with increased premiums for a start, and eventually you will find yourself uninsurable. Someone robbing your house is a touch different than someone stealing your quad, even if it was legitimately stolen and not just impounded by the police because you were a moron riding on city streets. Your day will come. Not a doubt in my mind about that.

 

I am not saying that all quad owners/operators are irresponsible. I am saying that the police will respond to quad complaints at some point and it will cost someone money. I dont know if it will be you or someone else, but it will happen. In some parts of WV, quads are no problem and are welcomed as a tourist attraction. That is not the case in my part of the state. In Alaska, or anywhere else, laws are different for different reasons. I am commenting on my observations as a law enforcement officer in WV only. I see kids riding quads on the road almost every day. Do we have a huge death toll, nope. I would submit that if your child is the one hurt or killed on the road while riding or hurt / killed by a person riding in a reckless manner, then the death toll will be HUGE for YOU!!! We are not talking about a guy plowing driveways on a snowy day, we are talking about a person cutting down a road or riding down the shoulder to go from one trail to another. Common sense on the part of the rider and the officer will handle that. We are talking about the riders speeding, pulling wheelies, running from the police (then trying to report stolen), no mufflers ro modified exhaust, driving after dark woithout lights, etc. In short, I talking about people committing reckless acts on the quads on the roadways. These are violations which are also punishable in a car, so why do some people condone them on a quad???

 

Well said encore ...

 

I have asked this question of our local pd and they said that as long as you are obeying the laws of the road, you will not be bothered. I also asked what I would have to do when crossing a bridge by my house, (it is on the busiest street in the city) and he said that I would have to get of the quad and walk it across the bridge.

I think that if you went to your local pd and asked for permission to cross or travel some roads, they will tell you as long as you are being responsiable and follow the rules, go ahead, but if they get a complaint, they will have to do something. Like it was said earlier, if they have to do something, it is more work for them.

Save the crazy stuff for where you are going, not when you are going there.

 

So...

Given the topic at hand...what is required to make a quad legal for use on public streets?

I have checked with the nearest Highway Patrol office and no-one there seems to know. An officer told me that he sees no reason that it cannot be done...but claims that he did not know what exactly was required...and that it would be quite expensive.

While at the station, I requested a book that specifies Missouri law regarding roadworthy vehicles...From the reading I've done, a quad qualifies as neither a passenger vehicle, nor a motorcycle....Most of the regulations seem rather vague, in the fact that they are written in a manner that cannot be decoded by the average person...and they also leave much open to intrepretation.

For what I could tell...you need:

Mirror (at least one)
Headlight (with hi/low beams)
Reflective Material (visible upto 50' away)
A safety horn
Turn Signals (front & rear)
A speedometer
Dot approved tires (certified for on-road use)
Brakes (front & rear that will stop you in an efficient manner)

Going from memory...but I think thats it...need to find the book again.

 

buy a 50. i take my to the store all the time and my late night beer runs.

 

I checked into this locally in Oregon. You can get it registered at the DMV no problem With lights, turn signals etc... I also talked with the local police. The gal checked into it for me. The way the laws are structered around offroad/atv vehicles it is close to impossible to make it legal with the police. You might be able to get it registered at the DMV but it won't make a bit of difference when you get your ticket.
I would also say I live in the country & would not be opposed to riding on the pavement out to go ride. The problem is when you are doing that with a buddy the odds are pretty good you'll end up screwing around. Which pisses people off big time. Ask your neighbors & see what they say. Someone see's you putting down the side of the road slowly. No problem they won't think anything of it. You go flying by quickly or even racing someone. The same person will think I need to call & report that before someone gets killed. If you use your head you will find you won't have any trouble. It also makes a big difference in how loud your bike is. Most aftermarket exhausts are going to annoy people. Even if you aren't going that fast it might sound like you are. It's all about perception. Basically just use your head & ride safe.

 

ive been caught on the highway about 1/2 a mile from my moms house......i went straight to jail and my quad had to be picked up about 30 minutes later by my mom.....it was left on the side of the road the whole time. i paid about 500 dollars in fines, they went easy o my luckally. My best freinds cousin was riding his banshee a week after he got it last year and was on a public road. he was keeping up with the speed limit and tried to make a small curve that wasnt the bad of one and didnt make it, he hit a mail box going about 60-65 mph and totaled it and hisself out. a shattered wrist and about 3000 dollars later he said he wasnt going to do that again. they arent made for the road or they would make a on/offroad atv! just my opinion

 

Exactly atv's are fine on the road if u know what u are doing and are not acting like a moron

 

yeah sure... run a 400ex or some other fourwheeler wide open on the interstate, see how long that quad last.