100 signatures reached
To: Owners and users of ORV's
ORV use of a maintained portion of a county or municipal road
Not every county road is open to ORV use in Northern Michigan. Some counties, townships and villages have restricted ORV use on local roads. If these roads can be currently used by big trucks, Jeeps, 4x4 etc., ORV use should not be a problem. Since there are more stringent laws already in place by the DNR and the State of Michigan on ORV's, such as 25mph speed limit, it should not be an issue to operate on the same roads as regular vehicles.
Signing this petition will allow us, the ORV community, for our voice to be heard at local township board meetings. Upcoming board meetings discussing ORV ordinances that I am aware of so far are Star Township on October 7th, and Chestonia Township on October 10th. Both meetings are expected to have many against ORV ordinances to allow ORV's on county roads. One group has already gathered 1,200+ signatures. It doesn't stop with just these two townships. Other townships are waiting to see the outcomes before having their own ORV Ordinance meetings.
Short story on the beginnings of the allowing of ORV's on county roads.
House Bill 4323 (2008 PA 240) was signed into law on July 17, 2008. This law authorized certain counties and municipalities in northern lower Michigan and the Upper Peninsula to adopt ordinances permitting the operation of off-road vehicles (ORV) on the maintained portion of a county or municipal road.
Local municipalities in northern lower Michigan and the Upper Peninsula had a couple years to set their own ORV ordinance after House Bill 4323 (2008 PA 240) was signed into law. Many ORV ordinances were adopted, without a popular vote by the people, in each jurisdiction. County commissioners often passed these ordinances with the restrictions they wanted in place.
Permanent closure of vehicle traffic on county or public roads, should not be determined by county commissioners. It should be up for the people to decide.
Signing this petition will allow us, the ORV community, for our voice to be heard at local township board meetings. Upcoming board meetings discussing ORV ordinances that I am aware of so far are Star Township on October 7th, and Chestonia Township on October 10th. Both meetings are expected to have many against ORV ordinances to allow ORV's on county roads. One group has already gathered 1,200+ signatures. It doesn't stop with just these two townships. Other townships are waiting to see the outcomes before having their own ORV Ordinance meetings.
Short story on the beginnings of the allowing of ORV's on county roads.
House Bill 4323 (2008 PA 240) was signed into law on July 17, 2008. This law authorized certain counties and municipalities in northern lower Michigan and the Upper Peninsula to adopt ordinances permitting the operation of off-road vehicles (ORV) on the maintained portion of a county or municipal road.
Local municipalities in northern lower Michigan and the Upper Peninsula had a couple years to set their own ORV ordinance after House Bill 4323 (2008 PA 240) was signed into law. Many ORV ordinances were adopted, without a popular vote by the people, in each jurisdiction. County commissioners often passed these ordinances with the restrictions they wanted in place.
Permanent closure of vehicle traffic on county or public roads, should not be determined by county commissioners. It should be up for the people to decide.
Why is this important?
Public county roads that are already open to regular vehicle traffic should allow ORV's as well. We should not discriminate because one is driving a 6,000 lb truck, a 4,000 car, a 400 lb ATV or a 300 lb motorcycle.
ORV's already have laws in place set by the DNR and the State of Michigan.
ORVs operating under a county ordinance are required to:
• Operate with the flow of traffic.
• Operate on the far-right portion of the roadway or
shoulder.
• Operate at a speed no greater than 25 mph or a lower
posted speed limit.
• Not operate in a manner that interferes with traffic on the
roadway.
• Operate single file.
• Operate displaying a lighted headlight and taillight.
• Have affixed an ORV license as required by law.
An ORV ordinance is for the use of public roads that are already open to regular traffic. This not for the creation of any trails off the roadway, or for any kind of off-roading use. An ORV ordinance only allows the ability to use the county roads.
ORV's already have laws in place set by the DNR and the State of Michigan.
ORVs operating under a county ordinance are required to:
• Operate with the flow of traffic.
• Operate on the far-right portion of the roadway or
shoulder.
• Operate at a speed no greater than 25 mph or a lower
posted speed limit.
• Not operate in a manner that interferes with traffic on the
roadway.
• Operate single file.
• Operate displaying a lighted headlight and taillight.
• Have affixed an ORV license as required by law.
An ORV ordinance is for the use of public roads that are already open to regular traffic. This not for the creation of any trails off the roadway, or for any kind of off-roading use. An ORV ordinance only allows the ability to use the county roads.
How it will be delivered
I plan to present these signatures to local board meetings around Northern Michigan.