WASHOUGAL — The town of Washougal is adopting a rule that enables wheeled ATVs on most metropolis streets. However don’t anticipate town to show into one thing out of “Mad Max.” The ordinance comes with pace limits and security necessities, together with licensing.
The Washougal Metropolis Council voted to approve the ordinance regulating ATVs on the council’s Nov. 4 assembly.
“They are very handy if you’re just tooling around town, and they’re easy on fuel — they get pretty good gas mileage,” mentioned Washougal Police Chief Wendi Steinbronn, who crafted the ordinance. “They’re very popular, and attractive for tourists. Even though we don’t have anything in place now, there’s always the possibility that a shop could rent these out and people could tour around town on them.”
The Legislature handed a legislation in 2013 permitting wheeled ATVs on public roadways with a pace restrict of 35 mph or much less if town has authorised an ordinance.
Wheeled ATVs have particular necessities in Washington from top and width to wheel base and tire stress. Dune buggies, snowmobiles and golf carts don’t qualify as wheeled ATVs.
At a September council assembly, Washougal resident Robert Bromley mentioned he had lately been pulled over by a Washougal police officer, who advised him he wasn’t allowed to drive his wheeled ATV within the metropolis, regardless of following the state’s guidelines.
“I did the modifications, I got it certified, a plate and tags from the state of Washington, and I got insurance on it,” Bromley advised The Put up-Report. “Then I get told that I can’t drive it on the street. As long as everybody’s legal about it, then I can’t see any reason not to have an ordinance for it.”
Bromley adopted up at two subsequent council conferences and assisted Steinbronn in her efforts to draft the ordinance.
State legislation additionally dictates drivers have to be 18 years or older; have a sound driver’s license; carry proof of legal responsibility insurance coverage; and are topic to all guidelines relevant to bikes, together with helmet-wearing except the car is supplied with seatbelts and a roll bar, in keeping with state legislation. Autos will need to have headlights, back lights, a cease lamp, reflectors, flip indicators, a horn, a spark arrester and a muffling machine, amongst different necessities.
“I’ve driven one of these in a different state, and I have to say, it was a heck of a lot of fun,” Councilor David Fritz mentioned. “As I remember, at least the device I was on, it was extremely loud — like, so loud. I drove by houses, and I thought to myself, ‘If one of these was driving by my house, it would be really annoying.’ ”
Steinbronn mentioned wheeled ATVs “have to follow the same (noise) requirements for vehicles and motorcycles.”
“I don’t know that we can guarantee that there won’t be any noise issues,” Metropolis Supervisor David Scott mentioned.
Bromely mentioned extreme noise shouldn’t be an excessive amount of of a priority.
“I have a Harley that’s louder,” he mentioned of his wheeled ATV. “I mean, unless you’re really revving it, it’s not very loud at all.”
Mayor David Stuebe mentioned town ought to require wheeled ATV drivers to signal a kind that signifies that they’ve learn Washington’s necessities and intend to stick to them.
“You’ve got all the requirements up there, I think it would be nice for (the drivers) to have one place to read them before they’re authorized to drive in Washougal,” he mentioned. “What about kids (who might want to) drive 55 and jump on Highway 14 — how do we educate those guys? I think it would help our police by having them read the education, sign it and agree to it.”
Cities are required to offer a public record of all of the roadways on which wheeled ATVs might function, and to make that record accessible to the general public from the primary web page of their web sites. ATVs are prohibited from sidewalks, parks, bicycle lanes, strolling paths and Freeway 14.
“We could have a map on our website so that people can look at where they can ride and where they can’t ride,” Steinbronn steered at a council workshop.
Bromley mentioned that wheeled ATVs provide drivers a secure, gratifying choice to get round city or go off-roading.
“You’ve got a four-point (seat belt), a timing belt, and a roll cage,” he mentioned. “It’s only got two cylinders, so it gets really good mileage, and it’s fun. Everybody loves them. … In fact, the mayor has asked me twice now if he can go for a ride.”