Across North America, more and more governments are updating their laws to reflect the rise of modern ATVs and UTVs. The idea that these vehicles belong “off-road only” is fading—because states and provinces are seeing the benefits of giving riders a legal, structured path to ride safely and responsibly on public roads.
Texas isn’t leading this movement.
It’s falling behind it.
States like Arizona, Utah, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming have already implemented laws that allow ATVs and UTVs to operate on many public roads—often with fewer restrictions than what the 50 MPH Bill proposes here in Texas.
In these places, ATVs and side-by-sides are:
Required to meet basic safety standards
Registered and insured like other motor vehicles
Operated by licensed drivers
Used in towns, rural areas, and trail systems without incident
These aren’t “free-for-all” states. They’re responsible models—and they’re proving that legal ATV use works when done right.
If these states can create safe, fair laws for ATV riders—why can’t Texas?
Arizona is one of the leading examples of how to legalize ATVs and UTVs the right way. Their approach isn’t complicated. It’s not reckless. It’s smart, structured, and focused on responsible access.
In Arizona, ATV and UTV riders can drive on most public roads—urban or rural—as long as their vehicle:
Has the required safety equipment (lights, mirrors, horn, etc.)
Is registered for street use
Is insured
Is operated by a licensed driver
That’s it.
The result? It works.
You’ll see ATVs parked in front of local diners, side-by-sides pulling into hardware store lots, and entire families heading to community events—all legally, safely, and without drama.
Local governments in Arizona also have the power to opt out, giving cities and counties the ability to restrict access where needed—just like the 50 MPH Bill proposes for Texas.
This balance between statewide rules and local flexibility has led to:
đź”’ Safer roads
🧠Clear rules for riders
đź‘® Fewer enforcement issues
đź’° Boosted local economies in ATV-friendly towns like Sedona, Kingman, and Lake Havasu
If it works in the desert backroads and growing suburbs of Arizona, it can absolutely work on the rural highways, county roads, and small towns of Texas.
Arizona didn’t lower the bar.
They just applied the rules fairly—and their communities are better for it.
Utah isn’t just a leader in ATV tourism—it’s a blueprint for how to fully integrate side-by-sides into public roadways without compromising safety or order.
In Utah, the state offers an official classification called a “Type I Street-Legal OHV.” This allows eligible ATVs and UTVs to operate on nearly all public roads, excluding only high-speed interstates.
To qualify, a vehicle must:
Have headlights, taillights, brake lights, and turn signals
Be equipped with mirrors, a horn, and a properly displayed license plate
Pass a basic inspection and remain insured
Be driven by a licensed operator
Sounds familiar? It should—these are almost identical to the standards proposed in the 50 MPH Bill.
But Utah didn’t stop with just making it legal. They embraced it as part of their state culture, with entire towns built around ATV-friendly infrastructure.
In places like Moab, Panguitch, and Marysvale, you’ll find:
Public ATV access to restaurants, hotels, and gas stations
Local ordinances that encourage safe, shared-road use
Trailheads that connect directly to legal town roads
Seasonal events and tourism that generate millions in revenue
The best part?
Law enforcement supports it.
Local governments shape it.
Riders respect it.
It’s not chaos—it’s community.
If a state like Utah—with mountain passes, snow, urban traffic, and desert terrain—can make ATV legality work, there’s no excuse for Texas not to do the same.
Montana is proof that you don’t need big-city infrastructure to pass smart legislation. With its wide-open highways, working ranches, and small towns, Montana has taken a rural-first approach to ATV and UTV access—and it works.
In Montana, ATVs and UTVs can be used on many public roads, including:
County roads
Low-traffic state highways
Roads with speed limits up to 65 MPH (if allowed by local ordinance)
To ride legally, the state requires:
Registration as a street-legal vehicle
Insurance
A driver’s license
A helmet if the rider is under 18
Standard road equipment like mirrors, lights, a horn, and a brake light
Montana gives counties and towns the ability to set additional limits or permissions—but the base law recognizes that people in rural areas depend on these machines for more than trail riding.
What’s happened since? Not much—in a good way.
Officers have clear laws to enforce.
Riders know what’s legal.
Crashes haven’t increased significantly.
No flood of reckless riders or off-road chaos.
Small towns with ATV access see stronger local business support and tourism dollars.
In Montana, the state didn’t ask, “What if something goes wrong?”
They asked, “What if we trusted our people to do the right thing—with the right rules?”
And guess what? It’s working.
Texas has more riders, more roads, and more room to make this successful.
All we need is the political will to do what Montana already has.
Idaho doesn’t just allow ATVs and UTVs on public roads—it builds policy assuming they’re part of everyday life. And in many places across the state, they are.
The laws are clear, consistent, and easy to follow:
To operate an ATV or UTV on public roads in Idaho, riders must:
Register their vehicle through the state
Equip it with headlights, taillights, and brake lights
Install a horn and rearview mirror
Use a licensed driver
Wear a helmet if under 18
Carry insurance and a visible license plate
Sound familiar? That’s because it matches nearly all the proposed safety requirements in the 50 MPH Bill.
What makes Idaho stand out is how normalized ATV and UTV use has become.
In rural towns and unincorporated communities:
It’s completely normal to see side-by-sides in grocery store parking lots
Local governments build policies assuming ATVs are part of daily life
Many events and parades include ATVs right alongside pickup trucks
There’s no fear, no controversy, and no wave of accidents.
Just law-abiding citizens using legal vehicles the right way.
Idaho didn’t need a massive cultural shift.
They didn’t need a new task force.
They just needed a law that made practical sense.
Texas has even more reasons to do the same—more roads, more riders, more rural land, and more to gain from clear legislation.
Idaho trusted its people, and the results speak for themselves.