Recent accidents show need for off-highway vehicle legislation

Recent off-highway vehicle (OHV) crashes, including one that killed a 14-year-old eastern Arizona boy this month, emphasize the need for all riders to follow safety precautions and wear proper riding equipment every time they hit the trails. In order to prevent tragedies, OHV enthusiasts are working with a broad and diverse coalition of outdoor user groups, land management agencies, county and local governments, sportsmen and the Arizona Game and Fish Department to enact House Bill 2443 into law.

House Bill 2443 would strengthen safety standards, improve equipment criteria, and increase resources for law enforcement and rider education and safety programs. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Jerry Weiers (R-Glendale), was earlier approved by the Arizona House of Representatives by a vote of 51-4. This week the Arizona Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Rural Affairs passed the bill by a vote of 7-0, moving it to the Senate Appropriations Committee for consideration. The committee also passed an amendment introduced by Sen. Jake Flake (R-Snowflake), providing clarification for ranching and agricultural OHV use on private or leased land.

“OHV use in Arizona has dramatically increased by about 350 percent, or nearly 39 percent per year, since 1998,” said Arizona Game and Fish Department Assistant Director of Field Operations Mike Senn. ”Unfortunately, with that many people out enjoying their OHVs, the odds of accidents also have increased. HB 2443 will enhance safety equipment requirements to help prevent or minimize needless injuries and fatalities.”

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), 147 Arizonans died in OHV-related accidents from 1982 to 2005, the most recent data available. During the same period, nearly 7,188 deaths involving OHVs occurred nationwide. The CPSC estimates about one-third of all people involved in OHV accidents are children.

House Bill 2443:

Would expand safety standards, including a requirement for individuals younger than 18 to wear appropriate headgear.


Would improve equipment standards to require adequate brakes, head and taillights and spark arrestors to prevent fires. Better muffler and sound requirements are also included.


Would bolster resources for OHV management, including trails and facilities, access, law enforcement, education, safety and mitigation for damage.


Would enact new laws that will better protect Arizona’s natural resources from inappropriate use of OHVs.


Would dramatically reduce the current Vehicle License Tax to just $3. This tax allows properly equipped all-terrain cycles (dirt bikes), all-terrain vehicles (quads), and utility vehicles on streets and highways.


Would create a small, annual flat fee for a license plate for off-highway vehicle use.
To read the full text of House Bill 2443, visit the Arizona State Legislature Web site at azleg.gov. Also, visit the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Web site, azgfd.gov/ohv, for more information on the bill.