Yeah, there is no difference. The only roads (or highway or county roads or cul de sacs or motorways) I can legally ride on are certain forest service roads inside a National Park that is designated for ORV use. Even then I am only allowed to drive to and from the trailhead.

 

I think the word here is act responsibly and you are probably in a much better situation than if you were playing village idiot. I sinceley hope that some of the run and gun responses were in jest. We don't need to add to the already negative perception that ALL ATV riders are hellions. I realise this thread is nothing more than a ploy to get people to act out... the sad thing is that probably the irresponsible replies will be quoted, and the guys who offer honest, yet bland answers will be forgotten like yesterday's news. The real answer is to know the local laws BEFORE you venture out. If you have to trailer it, do so.

 

The only problem with certain areas is the only way to get the laws is in print form, which can be very vague. If you ask a cop, for instance, each will give you their opinions and not the facts because a lot don't really know. Like, if you use your ATV to plow your driveway in NYS you don't need to register or insure it, yet I've been told by officials that there aren't ANY instances where you don;t need to register or insure.

 

In Quebec it's illegal.
I did it numerous times this past winter when I didn't have a trailer to get to the trails.
One time a cop car was coming from the other direction. He slows down and puts his hand down telling me to stop. I gunned it, turned in back of him and shot through the trails like there was no tomorrow lol.

My cousin got stopped and only got a warning not to long ago.
I don't go on the road anymore.

 

Dude, I have to tell you... I hope that you get caught and get your quad taken from you. Not only did you risk your own life, but you put the officer's life in danger.. and anyone else that may have been around at the time too. You think it is funny.. I and many of us out here DON'T. When you are sitting around with your buddies laughing about it, think about this. That officer probably has a wife and kids too. He has dreams for his family, and he is just trying to do his job. That is upholding the local laws and protecting the majority of persons that DO obey the law. Every day, an officer just like him is killed because some punk thought only about himself and his thrills. Someday you will find yourself in need of an officer.. and I want you to remember how you treated him with disdain...

The real thing here is punks like you come on threads like this and blow stupid stuff out your ears like this just to get a rise... it is your way of getting kicks. How I pity you... more important, I pity your parents for having to put up with such childish behavior. It is too bad they don't beat children like they used to when I was a youngster. I can tell you one thing.. in my day, you didn't do it twice....

 

I live in Western Massachusetts and one of the State forests that we are allowed to ride in is in the next Town over. We also have a lot of trails in my area that are for ATV/snowmobiling. We get people from all over including Connecticut that come to my area to ride.

As far as riding on the road, it is not allowed. But you are allowed to cross it and ride very short distances when trails cross the roads (example: trail ends at the road, but picks back up 200 feet down).

I live less than a 1/2 mile from one of the trail entrances and ride the road all the time. I've never been hassled and all the locals do the same.

We also only have 6 cops in Town and they are basically part-time. The State Police and the Enviromental Police patrol the area all the time. But to my knowledge, nobody has been really hassled. If your not registered or riding like a moron, than maybe you were hassled, but it is very limited.

By the way, our Police Department actually has an ATV of their own. They ride it on the street to the trails (usually a good 5 miles each way). I've seen the Officer heading out with it a few times, but I've never actually seen him out on the trails when I'm riding.

 

Exactly my point... Th bottom line is that the local police will enforce the will of the locals. If that means you get a ticket, then you were obviously doing something counter to the local laws. If they declare it legal, which in many part os the country they have, albeit in a very controlled fashion, then so be it. But I pretty much bet that if you act like an idiot, you will be rewarded for your lack of judgement...

 

Here in Maine you can drive around some town roads on your ATV. Some towns allow it on only certain roads to get from trail to trail. It really comes down to local laws. The towns that allow riding on all their roads are very rural and small with low traffic volumes. The roads that other towns allow ATVers to use are often back roads. I know of one town that wants you to stay on the road to prevent the sandy shoulder from being worn away. There is often a speed limit, so just keeping your speed reasonable and riding responsibly allows the road to be kept open for ATV use. I believe any town can pass local ordinaces to allow ATV's on the road. North of me they've really embraced ATV's and you can ride to any store or restaurant on one.

 

where about do you ride Rancer247 ive been riding up towards greenville always looking for other places.

 

I ride all over yamaharap. From downeast (Beddington to Grand Lake Stream), China Lakes region lots of mud and water, the mountains of western maine tight rough woods trails, and up in ATV heaven the county, miles upon miles of riding just get on and go any place. I've also done several state rail trails, and the gravel pit in Augusta. Mount Blue in Weld is about 30 miles of very rough, rocky, tight advanced trails, definetly not for a beginner. Since I'm pretty advanced, I like all types of trails. Maine has both good day trips and good overnight trips.