ORV Ordiance in Presque Isle County
ORV Ordinance
The following ordinance, regulating operation of off-road vehicle within Presque Isle County, was adopted by the Presque Isle County Board of Commissioners on December 30, 1986. It was formally approved by Governor James Blanchard on May 25, 1988. This ordinance takes immediate effect.
- An ordinance of the County of Presque Isle, pursuant to 1975 PA 319, No. 18, as amended by 1986 PA 112, for regulation of place and operation of off-road recreatonal vehicles and to provide penalties for noncompliance.
Sec. 1. As used in this ordinance, the following defintions shall apply:
- a) "Forest road" means a hard surfaced road, gravel or dirt road, fire lane, abandoned railroad right-of-way, logging road, or a way capable of travel by a 4-wheel vehicle, except an interstate, state, or county highway.
- b) "Forest trail" means an existing 1-track path or way capable of travel by a 2-wheel or 3-wheel vehicle less than 40 inches in width.
- c) "Highway" means the entire width between the boundary lines of a way publicly maintained when any part thereof is open to the use of the public for purposes of vehicular travel.
- d) "Operate" means to ride in or on, and being in actual physical control of the operation of an ORV.
- e) "ORV" or "vehicle" means a motor driven off-road recreation vehicle capable of cross-country travel without benefit of a road or trail, on or immediately over land, snow, ice, marsh, swampland, or other natural terrain. It includes, but is not limited to a multitrack or multiwheel drive or low-pressure tire vehicle, a motorcycle or related 2-wheel or 3-wheel vehicle, an amphibious machine, a ground effect air cushion vehicle, or other means of transportation deriving motive power from a source other than muscle or wind. "ORV" or "vehicle" does not include a registered snowmobile, a farm vehicle being used for farming, a vehicle used for military, fire, emergency or law enforcement purposes, a construction or logging vehicle used in performance of its common function, or a registered aircraft.
- f) "Roadway" means that portion of a highway improved, designated, or ordinarily used for vehicular travel, and does not include within its meaning the shoulder or right-of-way.
Sec. 2. An ORV may not be operated on the roadway of any highway.
Sec. 3. An ORV may not be operated on the roadway, shoulder, or right-of-way of highways US-23, M-68, M-65, M-33, or M-211 except:
- In a life-threatening emergency.
- For the purposed of getting from one area to another, an operator may cross such highway at right angles. The operator shall bring the ORV to a complete stop prior to crossing a highway and shall yield the right-of-way to oncoming traffic.
Sec. 4. An ORV may be operated on the shoulder, or on the right-of-way, but not on the roadway, of all public highways within Presque Isle County not prohibited by pargaraph 3. Operation on the roadway of any such highway is prohibited except:
- In a life-threatening emergency.
- For the purposed of getting from one area to another, an operator may cross such highway at right angles. The operator shall bring the ORV to a complete stop prior to crossing a highway and shall yield the right-of-way to oncoming traffic.
Sec. 5. an ORV may be operated on any forest road or forest trail within Presque Isle County.
Sec. 6. Any person who violates this ordinance is guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine or no more than $10 upon the first conviction and no more than $100 or 90 days jail, or both, for any subsequent conviction.
