ATV Riding Laws – Washington

In Washington State, all ATVs are required to be registered and titled. A metal ORV tag and Off-Road Vehicle use permit are also required to be placed on the all-terrain vehicle unless the owner/operator uses it on agricultural land they own or lease. Others exempt from the tag/permit rules include ATVs owned/operated by the United States, the state, or those owned by someone residing in another state and has valid documentation. The Department of Licensing regulates the use of all-terrain vehicles in Washington.

However, state law leaves it up to each county to permit licensed vehicles to operate on public roads, at 35 miles per hour or less, according to The Chronicle. Sparsely populated counties such as Skamania and Wahkiakum Counties have adopted the law. All-terrain vehicles with seat belts and roll cages are street-legal. Officials have noted that off-road trail hubs connected by public roads can draw more tourists, but opponents stress fears by the public of riders acting recklessly.

In March 2014, ATVs with the proper safety equipment and licensing became legal to use on Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest roads, the Methow Valley News reported. These are roads that already permit motorized vehicles. The development of the U.S. Forest Service’s Travel Management Plan was mentioned here as well, which involves reviewing all roads to make determinations regarding all-terrain vehicle use.

State Riding Restrictions

State law forbids anyone younger than 13 from driving an ATV across a road. That is unless it is designated for off-highway vehicles and they’re supervised by a licensed driver over 18. For anyone, vehicles must have working lights in front and back to be legally operated between dusk and dawn.

The law requires lights and brakes for any vehicle operated on land not the property of the driver. Spark arrestors are required as well and must be approved by the Department of Natural Resources. Muffling devices are required by law as well, specifically those that reduce noise to 86 decibels or lower, at 50 feet. It is also illegal to operate an all-terrain vehicle in a way that would harm another person, wildlife, or property. Loaded weapons are forbidden as well unless the operator has a permit from the Director of Fish and Wildlife.

ATV Riding Dangers in Washington State

There were 188 accident-related fatalities between 1982 and the end of 2015, the Consumer Product Safety Commission found. This is far fewer than states leading in all-terrain vehicle deaths, such as Texas, California, and West Virginia. Provisions of state law are enforced by designated officials such as state patrol officers, county sheriffs, deputies, park rangers, and Department of Natural Resources employees designated to do so. Municipal law enforcement officers can enforce these rules as well.