ATV Owners in CT Can Breathe Easier

By Bud Wilkinson of RIDE-CT.com

ATV owners in Connecticut can stop worrying about a bill that would have required the registration of all off-road vehicles, including quads, dirt bikes and snowmobiles.

As originally introduced by state Rep. Debralee Hovey, a Republican whose district includes Newtown and Monroe, proposed H.B. 5183 required the registration of every all-terrain vehicle; even those used solely for personal use on an owner’s property.

However, when the bill passed through the Transportation Committee, it was modified to say only those ATV owners currently required to register their vehicles would have to do so to reap the bill’s benefit, namely state land set aside for riding. And, under current law, only those desiring to ride on state land must register.

The bill would establish an all-terrain vehicle division within the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection to create and maintain ATV trails in the state. It would cost $20 to register a snowmobile and $40 to register an ATV. Half of the ATV registration fee would be deposited is an “all-terrain account” that the DEEP would use to create and maintain trails for ATV operators and to assist in the law enforcement of ATVs.

At the time of registration, ATV owners would also be assessed a $5 “land purchase fee” to establish trails.

Since being introducing in January, the bill has had a public hearing and been passed the Transportation Committee. It has now has a file number 321 and can be brought to the floor for a vote, although on Wednesday the proposed legislation was referred to the Committee on Finance, Revenue and Bonding for further scrutiny.

While the it could come for vote at any time, the best guess here is that it will die from lack of action when the legislative session ends at midnight June 5 – once again leaving ATVers in the state with no places to ride.

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