People commonly use all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) for outdoor recreation or to navigate rough terrain. Thanks to a 2018 change in the law (Wis. Stat. s. 23.33), ATVs and UTVs are not allowed on Interstate highways but are allowed on state highways with approval from the DOT within municipalities allowing for their use on local roads.
The law allows for ATV/UTV route postings on streets and roads at the territorial boundaries, so there may not be as many signs along an individual road. Riders must stick to authorized areas to ride on roads and travel at the appropriate speed.
Your headlights must work. To ride safely, you should use helmets and protective gear. You cannot use ATVs/UTVs in connected space like ditches or shoulders. An ATV/UTV rider should recognize that they must always yield the right of way.
The law varies from town to town, and not every place allows the use of ATVs on streets, so you will need to check the town, village, or city to see if they have an approved ATV route that would allow you to ride in the municipality.
Penalties For Violating Wisconsin ATV Laws
When driving an ATV in Wisconsin, you must always be sure to operate within the rules to avoid fines, jail and/or injury. A conservation warden, state patrol officer, county sheriff, or municipal peace officer may enforce the law if they find you operating the vehicle in violation of the law. Fines for violating ATV laws in Wisconsin can be anywhere from $150 to $2,000. Furthermore, you can serve up to 1 year in prison.
Know the laws before you ride. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation does not have the approval authority of local government ordinances. They can only review ATV ordinances before processing traffic signing permit applications for ATV routes to verify that a town, village, city, or county has referenced the appropriate sections of the law.
Contact Us
If you have been hurt in an accident involving an ATV, and it appears that another party may have been at fault, you may be entitled to seek financial compensation. To discuss your options, contact the personal injury attorneys of Habush Habush & Rottier at 800-242-2874.