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[Lee Borgersen]

 

 Ask a Conservation Officer 

                                                                   
9/16/19

  What are the rules for driving on ATV trails and roads in Minnesota?

Q: Does an 18 year old, who does not have a driver’s license, but has a Wisconsin ATV certificate qualify to drive in Minnesota on ATV trails and roads in the same way he could if it were a Minnesota certificate?





A: Anyone born after July 1, 1987, and above 12 years of age is required to have an ATV safety certificate to operate an ATV in public, even once they are older than 18. Minnesota does recognize a Wisconsin ATV safety certificate as meeting training requirements for non-residents. Minnesota Statutes in Chapter 84 address ATV operation and there are different requirements between trails and roads as it relates to a driver’s license. First, let’s look at how the law defines what is considered the “road.”

M.S. 84.92 subdivision 6a defines the public road right-of-way as the entire right-of-way of a public road, including the traveled portions, banks, ditches, shoulders, and medians of a roadway, that is not privately owned. That means that even operating in the ditch, if it is not private property, would be the same as operating on the traveled portion of the roadway.

M.S. 84.9256 specifically states a driver’s license issued by this state or another state is required to operate an ATV along or on a public road right-of-way. The only time an ATV safety certificate would serve as an exemption to a driver’s license requirement is under subdivision 1 paragraph (j) which says a person 12 years of age but less than 16 years of age may operate an ATV on the roadway, bank, slope, or ditch of a public road right-of-way if the person possesses a valid ATV safety certificate and is accompanied by a parent or legal guardian on a separate ATV. This statute does not provide an exemption to the driver’s license requirement for anyone 16 or older.


Now, if the road right-of-way is encompassed by a trail administered by the commissioner and designated for ATV or multi-vehicle use then M.S. 84.928 subdivision 1a paragraphs (g) and (h) allow operation there without a driver’s license.

So the simple answer to your question is an 18 year old would not be able to operate on the road right-of-way without a driver’s license regardless of ATV safety training. However, their Wisconsin ATV safety training would satisfy the Minnesota requirement to operate on trails.

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[glenn57]

i got a question for a CO???????

is there any way someone can FINALLY teach boar how to catch a fish, or actually shoot something thats not road kill?????????

sorry!!!!!!!!!!!

[LPS]

    Good one Glenn.