Legalizing ATV and UTV use on public roads in Texas isn’t just a convenience—it’s a necessary, overdue change that affects thousands of Texans across rural areas, small towns, and growing communities.
This is about freedom, fairness, and fixing outdated laws that no longer reflect the way people live and ride.
If your ATV or side-by-side is:
Fully insured
Properly registered
Equipped with lights, mirrors, and safety features
Operated by a licensed driver
...why shouldn’t you have the same rights as any other vehicle on the road?
Motorcycles and golf carts are already street legal—with fewer wheels, less stability, and often fewer safety features. It’s time Texas applied equal standards across the board.
Right now, many Texans are already using ATVs for short-distance travel—but they’re doing so in a legal gray zone. That confusion:
Makes enforcement harder for officers
Increases the risk of unsafe or unregistered use
Leaves riders vulnerable to fines, impound, or worse
The 50 MPH Bill sets clear, enforceable rules—so responsible riders can ride legally, and unsafe riders can’t hide in the confusion.
In states like Arizona, Utah, and Montana, ATV-friendly laws have:
Boosted small-town tourism
Increased traffic to gas stations, diners, and motels
Sparked growth in powersport sales and repair shops
Towns in Canada’s ATV corridor (like Gander, Newfoundland) have seen similar success. With Texas’s wide-open roads and small-town culture, we’re missing out on real economic opportunity by keeping outdated restrictions in place.
ATVs use less gas, take up less space, and are ideal for:
Rural and unincorporated road travel
Ranching and farm transportation
Local errands and short commutes
Let’s stop forcing people to burn fuel in full-size trucks just to travel 2 miles to town.
Texas has long stood for freedom, independence, and practical solutions. But current laws don’t reflect how Texans are really living—especially in areas where ATVs are already part of daily life.
This bill respects our way of life. It ensures we can ride legally, safely, and proudly—without having to bend the rules or risk penalties for doing what makes sense.
“This is more than a policy change. It’s a cultural shift—toward freedom, fairness, and common sense on Texas roads.”
Failing to pass the 50 MPH Bill doesn’t just keep things the same—it actively creates problems for communities, officers, and everyday Texans.
Right now, riders in unincorporated Texas often use their ATVs to:
Run into town for fuel or groceries
Visit neighbors or family down the road
Get between fields or ranch gates
But they’re doing it illegally or semi-legally, depending on how local officers interpret the law that day.
This leaves riders vulnerable to:
Tickets
Vehicle impoundment
Increased insurance risk
Even civil liability if involved in an accident, even when not at fault
Clear laws protect everyone—riders, drivers, and law enforcement alike.
Ask a Texas sheriff or constable in a rural county if they think ATVs should be legal on certain roads. Many will tell you:
“We know people are doing it. We just want clear rules.”
Without this bill:
Officers are stuck in a position of discretion over legality
Enforcement becomes inconsistent from town to town
Unsafe riders aren’t always held accountable because the law is vague
Responsible riders get punished the same as reckless ones
The 50 MPH Bill draws a line between legal and illegal—and gives law enforcement a framework they can work with confidently.
With proper ATV registration and insurance:
Texas could generate new DMV revenue
Counties could collect local sales taxes from increased off-road tourism
Riders would be more likely to shop local when they can legally ride into town
Instead, we're stuck in a system where:
Riders avoid registration (because there’s no point)
Police are frustrated
Small towns lose economic potential
Texans have always believed in freedom, practicality, and personal responsibility. We ranch. We ride. We solve our own problems—and we expect laws to make sense, not get in the way.
So when thousands of Texans use modern ATVs and UTVs every day—for work, for errands, for life—but the law still treats them like toys or trespassers…
That’s not Texas.
That’s out of step with who we are.
You can go miles in any direction across Texas without hitting a city limit. But even on a quiet 45 MPH farm road in the middle of nowhere, riding a fully equipped, insured UTV to the gas station can get you a ticket.
That’s not about safety. That’s about a law that forgot rural Texas exists.
This bill fixes that—with:
Common-sense guidelines
Opt-out control for local governments
Rules that recognize how people in this state actually live
Motorcycles are allowed.
Golf carts are allowed in dozens of cities.
Even slow-moving NEVs (Neighborhood Electric Vehicles) have carved out street access.
But ATVs and UTVs—with roll cages, seat belts, full lighting, and insurance—are still sidelined?
That’s not about public safety anymore.
That’s about an old system built for an old world—not one where Texas is leading in agriculture, energy, and outdoor recreation.
This state was built on the backs of animals and machines—whatever it took to get the job done. From cattle trails to oil trucks, Texans know transportation isn’t about tradition—it’s about what works.
Today’s side-by-sides work—for real people doing real things. We’re just asking for the right to ride them responsibly, legally, and proudly.
This isn’t a fringe issue. This is a freedom issue. This is a respect issue. This is a Texas issue.
The 50 MPH Bill isn’t a leap of faith—it’s a logical next step. Several U.S. states and Canadian provinces have already legalized ATV and UTV use on public roads under structured conditions.
The result?
✅ Safer roads
✅ Stronger local economies
✅ Clearer rules for everyone
✅ No rise in ATV-related chaos
Allows street-legal ATVs and UTVs statewide with proper equipment and insurance.
Vehicle must pass a simple inspection and be plated like a car or motorcycle.
UTVs are commonly used in small towns and even suburban areas.
Result: Successful integration, especially in tourism-heavy towns like Sedona and Lake Havasu.
Offers a “Type I Street-Legal OHV” classification.
Riders can operate on nearly all public roads except interstate highways.
Has become a national ATV destination with entire towns welcoming off-road travelers.
Result: Significant economic boost in places like Moab and Panguitch.
Allows ATV/UTV travel on many county and city roads under 65 MPH with proper gear.
Registration and insurance are required, just like with motorcycles.
Result: Counties saw no major increase in accidents or enforcement issues.
Connects dozens of rural towns through an old railway corridor now used by ATVs.
Riders are allowed on local roads in many communities with proper licenses and helmets.
Result: A huge part of local tourism—towns like Gander thrive by embracing ATV riders.
They didn’t wait for perfection.
They built smart rules, gave riders a clear path, and trusted their communities.
They saw better compliance, stronger economies, and fewer enforcement headaches.
Texas isn’t too big for this idea.
Texas is too smart not to adopt it.
Changing the law isn’t just about lawmakers—it’s about you.
Riders, ranchers, shop owners, mechanics, parents, and everyday Texans are the heartbeat of this movement. The 50 MPH Bill only becomes reality if we show up, speak up, and push it forward.
Here’s how you can help:
It takes just 2–3 minutes to make your voice heard.
Send a quick message to your State Representative and Senator, telling them to support the 50 MPH Bill.
Use our contact tool here
“I support legalizing properly equipped ATVs and UTVs on roads 50 MPH or less. Please support the 50 MPH Bill.”
Numbers speak loudly—every signature counts.
Our online petition shows the Legislature this is a statewide issue with real backing.
Sign it here and share with friends, riders, or coworkers.
Hang one up at a gas station, trailhead, or powersports dealer.
Bring one to a town hall, council meeting, or county fair.
Download print-ready flyers
Are you already riding on local roads?
Do you live in a town where this would help you or your family?
Do you run a business that supports ATV access?
Send us your voice. Real stories build real change.
Submit your story here
Policy doesn’t change because someone might do something.
It changes because someone like you does.
Together, we can:
Fix outdated laws
Create safer roads
Support local freedom and rural life
Make Texas a leader in modern mobility
To you. To your neighbors. To the future of Texas riders.
Let’s make history—on four wheels.