NEW North Carolina ATV law's

BRUISER

BRUISER

silent.. but deadly
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Hey all,

Just in case you missed the NEWS Yesterday..


The State of North Carolina has a new law covering ATV use. It is effective yesterday (December 1, 2005).


There are now helmet and goggle requirements, training requirements, age restrictions (based on engine size), and alcohol restrictions.

These are state laws (i.e., they apply everywhere in North Carolina).
The
laws will also be enforced by the Forest Service in National Forests (Tellico/Nantahala, Uwharrie, etc).

A link to the new law is:

http://www.ncleg.net/Sessions/2005/Bills/Senate/HTML/S189v8.html
 
The helmet rule is a good thing. I can't believe the number of fools I see riding with no helmet all the time.

The age to engine size restrictions are ridiculous though. I had just turned 16 when I got my first CR250.

DK
 
love the helmet law but the age to size thing is whacked. I know adults who can't control atv's any better than my 7 year old nephew. Some kids were just born to ride. It will be interesting to see if any of this is enforced at places like UNF.
 
thebluyak said:
that whole shit law is ridiculas
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Right! :rolleyes:

Gone might be the days of *US* supporting an entire family (thru the welfare dole) because "daddy" was a fawkin idiot and decided to ride widearseopen down some URE trial... stumbling drunk... without a helmet...

Gone might be the EVERY weekend ritual of the Montgomery Cty. Rescue Squad leaving their families, jobs, & lives to haul for a turnout to retrieve above mentioned fawktards off the trails... when their gourds are laid open like melons...

Gone might be the metallic "ding" of their skulls bouncing off the Jeep bumpers and crack of bones as they tumble down the side of hill...

IMO, your view of the law is what's ridiculous... :beer:
 
^^ Ever hear of personal responsibility? If someone wants to be stupid and risk their life on an ATV let them. You don't have to be everyone's mommy. Laws like this simply prohibit the natural way of things, stupidity kills.
 
it's BS for this to apply to private property. great for public places though.
 
Flipper said:
^^ Ever hear of personal responsibility? If someone wants to be stupid and risk their life on an ATV let them. You don't have to be everyone's mommy. Laws like this simply prohibit the natural way of things, stupidity kills.
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X2

<><Fish
 
Flipper said:
^^ Ever hear of personal responsibility? If someone wants to be stupid and risk their life on an ATV let them. You don't have to be everyone's mommy. Laws like this simply prohibit the natural way of things, stupidity kills.
Click to expand...

That is true as long as everybody assumes no help or service from anybody else, and that we can all be completely discompassionate and perfectly fine w/ people killing themselves. That is, you're around and some guy knocks his skull, and you have no problem just keeping on going like he dosn't exist. Come on, you can act tough here, but if you did this people'd throw you out fastert han the other guy for bein ga cold-hearted bastard.

It's just human nature to help people out and feel sorry for folks, at least have the desire to do what you can... and this is where the problem comes in. The helmetless idiots end up sucking up our time because we can't help but, er, help them. Because they are stupid, other folks still get affected adversely. So, its better for everybody to keep them from being helmetless idiots (just idiots).

I guess my point is, if you really feel this way, then we should not have any rescue service at all, for anybody.
 
Flipper said:
^^ Ever hear of personal responsibility? If someone wants to be stupid and risk their life on an ATV let them. You don't have to be everyone's mommy. Laws like this simply prohibit the natural way of things, stupidity kills.
Click to expand...

It's only personal responsibility when their actions don't affect anyone else. Getting in a wreck while not wearing a helmet is gonna cost the taxpayers money through emergency response and the like.
When billy-bob dumbass cracks his worthless melon on the bumper of my cruiser, I'm going to have to wait for the cops...

That said, I can count on one hand the number of times I've worn a helmet on a ATV... But, it was on private land, I don't see how any of those laws apply to private land anyway, it's just like being able to be ticketed for driving a comp buggy in your back yard.

I guess dirtbike sales are gonna go up... Don't think those are classified as all-terrain vehicles.. :D
 
Hum I wonder what there definition of a farm or ranch is and what Activitys they deem to be related
"§ 20‑171.17. Exceptions.
(a) The provisions of this Part do not apply to any owner, operator, lessor, or renter of a farm or ranch, or that person's employees or immediate family or household members, when operating an all‑terrain vehicle while engaged in farming operations.
(b) The provisions of this Part do not apply to any person using an all‑terrain vehicle for hunting or trapping purposes if the person is otherwise lawfully engaged in those activities
I also do not see anything that said it will be enforced on fed lands
 
Rich said:
It's only personal responsibility when their actions don't affect anyone else. Getting in a wreck while not wearing a helmet is gonna cost the taxpayers money through emergency response and the like.
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THIS IS TIED DIRECTLY TO MY SEATBELT THREAD HERE.
Rich, why must we assume that people dont have insurance or wont pay their bills? Personal responsibility means if this situation arises they are financially responsible. Dont have the money we'll garnish YOUR wages not tax everyone else. No job go to jail. Then we all support your ass and pay your bill but at least you are never free to get injured again, and plus while in jail there will be no risk of you reproducing moron spawn...:smokin:
 
Farm or ranch activities is actually using it for work related to farming or ranching, NOT riding for fun on farm or ranch land.

If the federal land is in NC, then State law does apply unless there is a federal law on the same subject, then that supercedes State law.


Ridgerunner said:
Hum I wonder what there definition of a farm or ranch is and what Activitys they deem to be related
"§ 20‑171.17. Exceptions.
(a) The provisions of this Part do not apply to any owner, operator, lessor, or renter of a farm or ranch, or that person's employees or immediate family or household members, when operating an all‑terrain vehicle while engaged in farming operations.
(b) The provisions of this Part do not apply to any person using an all‑terrain vehicle for hunting or trapping purposes if the person is otherwise lawfully engaged in those activities
I also do not see anything that said it will be enforced on fed lands
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I'm sorry if I'm not compassionate. Your assumption that we need no emergency services because of my beleif is absurd. Accidents happen, and we have a moral responsibility to help others in need, even if it was their own fault.

What we do not need is endless legislation to "protect" us. The government can legislate food additives and medical drugs because they can unknowingly harm us (too much arsenic in the aspirin, eh). Helmets, however, are an obvious condition to proper safety. Joe idiot knows he'll get hurt if he crashes w/out a helmet, it is his responsibility to take care of himself.

Oh and rich, when billy bob cracks open his head on your rig and you have to wait for the cops, at least know its the last time he'll do it, and others like him will soon be out of the way.

enforcement on private property is a whole nother issue that I do not agree with, as well as the obvious lack of inluding dirt bikes.
 
Flipper said:
^^ Ever hear of personal responsibility? If someone wants to be stupid and risk their life on an ATV let them. You don't have to be everyone's mommy. Laws like this simply prohibit the natural way of things, stupidity kills.
Click to expand...


unfortunatly, "stupidity" doesn't usually finish the job, then there is a vegitable that someone has to take care of, which usually falls on the state as the expense is to great for the family, so now we all get to share in the wealth of stupidity.

These laws are "pre-emptive" in that there is a consequince possible BEFORE said stupid person(s) injure them selves, possibly making them think twice the next time. This case stupididty costs said offender ahead of time, unfortunatly, not nearly a fraction of the final bill.

Do I like being told I have to wear my seat belt, or a helmet ? nope,

but I do understand the reasons behind the laws. many folks need baby sitters, because they haven't the faculties to mind themselves let alone minor children.

Sadly, personal responsibility is lacking for most everything anymore.

This is why ambulance chasers are still getting rich.

Kevin
 
As a avid atv rider I can speak for me and most of there people I ride with there is know way they can enforce this law. I have had many run-ins with the local sheriff department and I never stopped once. BUT I DO USE MY HELMENT because of the way I ride. It has already saved my ass once
 
I ride an ATV, too, but I don't ride with Pancake. :D

The USFS is enforcing the law in the OHV areas as of December 1, and the law gives the Montgomery Sheriff's Department the authority to enforce the law anywhere in the Uwharrie OHV area, and they have geared up to do so. The only thing that will keep you from getting a ticket at Uwharrie, Tellico, etc., is there ain't but so many enforcement people to go around. As for you, Pancake, breaking the law and running from the cops is exactly what I'd expect of you and your cronies.:rolleyes:
 
I am also an atv rider and I am glad to see that you have to wear a helmet. I wear mine when i ride. Especially at URE's. I have seen too many idiots flip there atv's and not be wearing helmets. Luckily I haven't seen anybody get seriously hurt, but it was only a matter of time before i would. But the age requirements I don't totally agree with.
 
Why does this not apply to dirtbikes??? They are way less safe, and people who ride them generally ride stupider.

I think the helmet law sucks. I don't wear a helmet, mainly because I don't ride fast enough to merit one. If I were racing, or in some other situation where I could hurt my nogin I would..

But before I get flamed, I do understand what you guys are saying, and there are some idiots out there, and I guess like the old saying goes... ok, I forgot the saying but its the one where your punished for other peoples mistakes..
 
the argument about exspense is negligable, you think it's free for the government and taxpayers to make this law and enforce it? there's still going to be the same costs for medical response also.

if someone has a wreck bad enough to die if they weren't wearing a helmet, it's highly likely other things are going to need medical attention. if anything, it costs MORE for this law to be in place.

to me, it's just another example of the government sticking their hand in where it doesn't belong (for private land, i'm fine with this being enforced on public land).
 
Does a 10 yr old have sense enough to know he should be wearing a helmet when his parent isn't smart enough to encorage it ?

At what point is it up to a minor child to know when a 500cc ATV is too much for him to handle weight or power wise ?

We all know we have seen kids on LARGE ATV's and though WTF? some riding double even triple up., do these kids have the strength, knowledge and skill required to handle such machines ?

Hell if it's ok for them to ride those, why not an F350 on the highway pulling a gooseneck?

WHo makes the decision on this ?

If Common sense prevailed, there would be no need for laws such as these, as parents would mind themselves AND thier childern, instead of teaching them to be the lil shit heads they are destined to be.

Unfortunatly, this means that EVERYONE has to follow these laws set for the ignorant. It's sad really.

Kevin
 
Blkvoodoo said:
Does a 10 yr old have sense enough to know he should be wearing a helmet when his parent isn't smart enough to encorage it ?
Click to expand...

This is exactly why I think the helmet law makes sense. You regularly see kids and parents out riding together and none of them are wearing a helmet.
 
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