For Immediate Release | June 9, 2021

Off Highway Vehicle Ordinance Passed for Wildridge Subdivision

Avon Police encouraging neighbors to respect their neighbors during implementation and education

 
Avon, CO – An Off Highway Vehicle (OHV) ordinance was passed on second reading by the Avon Town Council on May 25^th. It will take effect on June 24^th.
 
The Avon Police Department is encouraging Wildridge residents to adopt the approach of “neighbors respecting neighbors” regarding OHV use on Wildridge public roadways during the implementation of and education around this ordinance.
 
The highlights from the ordinance are as follows:

• Off-highway vehicles shall be permitted on such routes for the limited purpose of traveling to or from the owner's or operator's residence or place of storage directly to U.S. Forest Service Road 7-779 and June Creek Trail/U.S. Forest Service Road 717.1A and 717.1B

• The ordinance applies to all Town roads and streets within Blocks 1 through 4 of the Wildridge Subdivision, beginning at the point 500 feet South of the intersection of Wildridge Road and Old Trail Road. A map of all Town roads and streets designated as limited off-highway vehicle routes is included in this press release.  

• Every off-highway vehicle shall be currently registered with the State Division of Parks and Wildlife.

• Every off-highway vehicle shall be covered by either an insurance policy complying with the State’s requirements for motor vehicles or a certificate of self-insurance in full force and effect which complies with the State’s requirements for motor vehicles. When an accident occurs, or when requested to do so following any lawful traffic contact, or during an investigation by a peace officer, no owner or operator of an off-highway vehicle shall fail to present to the requesting officer immediate evidence of a complying policy or certificate of self-insurance in full force and effect as required by law. Evidence of insurance can be shown on a cell phone.

• No person shall operate an off-highway vehicle at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the conditions than-existing, and in no event greater than 15 miles per hour.

• Any person who drives an off-highway vehicle in such a manner as to indicate either a wanton or willful disregard for the safety of persons or property shall be deemed guilty of reckless operation of an off-highway vehicle, which may, at officer discretion, be charged as reckless driving pursuant to section 42-4-1401, C.R.S.

• Any person who operates an off-highway vehicle in a careless and imprudent manner without due regard for the width, grade, curves, corners, traffic, pedestrians and use of the streets, and all other attendant circumstances, shall be deemed guilty of careless operation of an off-highway vehicle.

• A person operating an off-highway vehicle shall observe all official traffic control devices, including signs and signals, as set forth in the Model Traffic Code for Colorado Municipalities, as adopted by reference by the Town. This includes stop signs.

• No off-highway vehicle shall be operated between the hours of sunset and sunrise unless such off-highway vehicle is equipped with at least one lighted headlamp and one lighted tail lamp, each having the minimum candlepower prescribed by the regulations of the State.

• No off-highway vehicle shall be operated unless such off-highway vehicle is equipped with brakes and a muffler and spark arrester which conform to the standards prescribed by the regulations of the State.

• No person shall operate an off-highway vehicle unless such person has a current valid driver’s license and is at least 16 years of age, unless supervised by an adult traveling on a separate off-highway vehicle who is riding immediately next to, in front of, or behind the minor operator. In no event shall any person younger than 10 years of age be permitted to operate an off-highway vehicle on Town streets or roads.

• Any operator of an off-highway vehicle that is under the age of 18 years shall wear a safety helmet.

• An off-highway vehicle shall not carry more people than such vehicle is designed to carry.

• An off-highway vehicle shall not tow objects or people behind such vehicle.

• No off-highway vehicle shall be operated on sidewalks within the Town.

• Operators of off-highway vehicles shall use proper hand signals to warn other drivers of their intentions such as to turn or stop.

• Operators of off-highway vehicles shall wear proper eye protection.