§ 31-5-1601 — Operation on highways

Wyoming § 31-5-1601

• Jurisdiction: Wyoming
• Title 31: Motor Vehicles
• Ch. 5: REGULATION OF TRAFFIC ON HIGHWAYS
• Art. 16: OFF-ROAD RECREATIONAL VEHICLES

Text

(a) An off-road recreational vehicle may be operated upon
any public road rights-of-way, streets, roads or highways within
Wyoming subject to the following conditions:
(i) Off-road recreational vehicles may be operated on
main-traveled roadways only upon that portion of a public road
right-of-way, street, road or highway designated open by the
state, local or federal agency with jurisdiction over the
roadway and designated a Wyoming off-road recreational vehicle
trail pursuant to W.S. 31-2-701 through 31-2-707 by the
department of state parks and cultural resources. No portion of
a public road right-of-way, street, road or highway shall be
designated as a Wyoming off-road recreational vehicle trail by
the department without the consent of the state, local or
federal agency with jurisdiction over the roadway. Off-road
recreational vehicles operated upon roadways designated as
trails shall be subject to the user registration fee prescribed
by W.S. 31-2-703 and proof of liability insurance with limits
not less than twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000.00) and
shall not be deemed a motorcycle as defined in W.S. 31-1-
101(a)(xv)(E)(I) and 31-5-102(a)(xxii). Nothing in this
paragraph shall be deemed to authorize the department to acquire
or expand any public road right-of-way in order to accommodate
the operation of off-road recreational vehicles;
(ii) Crossings of main-traveled roadways shall be
made at right angles to the roadway or as nearly so as
practicable, but in any case yielding the right-of-way to all
traffic in the main-traveled roadway;
(iii) When operating at any time from one-half (½)
hour after sunset to one-half (½) hour before sunrise, the off-
road recreational vehicle shall be equipped with lighted lamps
and illuminating devices in accordance with W.S. 31-5-910
through 31-5-940;
(iv) The off-road recreational vehicle shall be
equipped with an adequate braking device that may be operated
either by hand or foot, a horn pursuant to W.S. 31-5-952(a), a
muffler pursuant to W.S. 31-5-953(c) and a mirror pursuant to
W.S. 31-5-954(a); and
(v) If operated on state or federal lands, the off-
road recreational vehicle shall be equipped with:
(A) An approved spark arrester;
(B) A noise muffler which produces a propulsion
noise level of not more than one hundred two (102) decibels at
twenty (20) inches in a stationary test.
(vi) This section does not apply to off-road
recreational vehicles operated on public road rights-of-way,
streets or highways for agricultural operations pursuant to W.S.
31-5-124(a)(i).
(b) Nothing in this section authorizes the operation of an
off-road recreational vehicle upon a public road right-of-way,
street, road or highway within Wyoming by a person who has not
been issued a valid driver’s license or permit.
(c) As used in this section, "public road right-of-way"
means the entire right-of-way of a street, road or highway
within Wyoming, including the traveled portions, banks, ditches,
shoulders and medians of a street, road or highway except as
provided in subsection (e) of this section.
(d) Off-road recreational vehicles as defined by W.S. 31-
1-101(a)(xv)(K)(II) that are registered pursuant to W.S. 31-2-
232 may be operated upon any open public road rights-of-way,
streets, roads or highways within Wyoming, notwithstanding the
designation of the public road right-of-way, street, road or
highway as a Wyoming off-road recreational vehicle trail
pursuant to W.S. 31-2-701 through 31-2-707.
(e) Off-road recreational vehicles as defined in W.S. 31-
1-101(a)(xv)(K) shall not be operated on the roadway or right-
of-way of an interstate highway except as authorized by
department rules and except that an off-road recreational
vehicle under this subsection:
(i) May be operated in the right-of-way adjacent to
the interstate roadway on a trail where there is a physical
barrier between the trail and the interstate highway and the
trail is designated, marked or signed as a Wyoming off-road
recreational vehicle trail pursuant to W.S. 31-2-701 through 31-
2-707, provided the off-road recreational vehicle:
(A) Is operated by a person with a valid
driver's license for the type or class of vehicle being
operated;
(B) Displays a license plate pursuant to W.S.
31-2-232 or an off-road recreational vehicle decal pursuant to
W.S. 31-2-702 through 31-2-704.
(ii) May be operated on separate grade crossings,
over or under the interstate roadway, marked or signed as a
Wyoming off-road recreational vehicle trail pursuant to W.S. 31-
2-701 through 31-2-707, provided the off-road recreational
vehicle:
(A) Is operated by a person with a valid
driver's license for the type or class of vehicle being
operated;
(B) Displays a license pursuant to W.S. 31-2-232
or an off-road recreational vehicle decal pursuant to W.S. 31-2-
702 through 31-2-704.