HAWAII

Police on the island of Hawaii are increasing enforcement against dirt bike and ATV riders who are using public roadways.

The police department received 60 complaints by April 9, including reports of riders speeding, riding recklessly and creating excessive sound.

State law requires all motor vehicles on public roads to be properly registered and all riders to possess driver’s licenses.

MAINE

An attempt to prohibit ATV and other motorized vehicles from using a stretch of Poland town property to cross Route 26 failed in a vote by the Select Board, according to a report in the Sun Journal.

In October, the board allowed the Bog Hooters ATV Club to use the abandoned railroad bed alongside the Waterhouse Park and Trail for a two-year trial scheduled to start May 15.

The riders could continue to Poland Corner Road and Aggregate Road, then cross state Route 26 from the town property to reach Cyndi’s Dockside restaurant.

Fred Huntress, co-chairman of the Conservation Committee, and Trails Committee President Alan Audet presented a conservation proposal that would limit recreational use of 16 acres alongside Aggregate Road for 128 feet and along state Route 26 for 3,000 feet.

The selectpersons unanimously agreed to allow the ATV club its two-year trial.

MASSACHUSETTS

Four teens were fined $750 each for riding dirt bikes in Hampden without proper registration or safety certification.

Melanie Beck told TV station WWLP that her son and three of his friends were riding around her property with her permission in March when state Environmental Police arrived and issued them citations. Each teen was fined $250 for operating an unregistered recreation vehicle and $500 for operation of a recreation vehicle without a safety certification.

State Environmental Police spokesman Craig Gilvarg told WWLP that the safety education requirement for young dirt bike drivers was established in 2010 and parents have the right to appeal any citations.

WASHINGTON

Gov. Jay Inslee (D) vetoed H.B. 2723 in April, saying the bill would result in a loss of revenue for the state at a time when it is dealing with the effects of the coronavirus.

The bill would have ended reciprocity between Washington and Oregon regarding registration of off-highway vehicles, including dirt bikes and ATVs and forced Oregon residents to buy passes every two months to ride in Washington.

The Washington Off Highway Vehicle Alliance opposed the bill, saying it would not help with compliance and likely would result in Oregon residents abandoning Washington trail riding, causing “serious harm to Washington tourism and volunteerism.”

WISCONSIN

The Sauk County Board of Supervisors voted to expand the ATV and UTV routes throughout the county, adding 28 additional routes that allow for the off-road recreational vehicles to be on county highways.

A report at Madison.com said the routes include parts of Highway 136 and Highway DL in Baraboo, parts of Highways K, H, V and S in Reedsburg, and Highways JJ and G in Spring Green. There will also be additional routes on county highways in Fairfield, Honey Creek, Troy, Freedom, Ironton, Delton and Bear Creek.

The expansion of routes comes after county ATV clubs in 2018 requested more use of highways.