Its Official! Michigan has a new ORV law!

[Yetti]

WE WIN!!!!!!!!
GOVERNOR SIGNS HB 4323 & HB 5559

July 17, 2008
Michigan Motorized Recreation Council
For Immediate Release:

We were informed moments ago; the Governor signed both ORV bills at 10:11 this morning, HB 4323 and the tie-bar bill regarding insurance, HB 5559 into Michigan law. Now referred to as Public Act 240 and Public Act 241 of 2008.

This now makes it clearly legal for Michigan counties and townships to open their roadways to ORV use on the “far right”, at a speed no greater than 25 mph, once a local ordinance is adopted. All youths must have DNR ORV safety training and be under visual supervision of an adult, able to come to their immediate aid as per current law.

We now begin the process of implementing these new laws for the benefit of the ORV user and Michigan’s economic climate. In reality, all current ordinances permitting ORV use on roadways became void once the Governor signed the bills because of language change.

A county must give a 45 day notice to the Road Commission, Sheriff and DNR forestry people within a county of the intent to adopt an ordinance as now clearly provided for under Michigan Compiled law.

Once a county adopts, every township is in, unless they choose to opt out. If after one year, a county don’t adopt an ordinance, a township may.

We have a draft wrote up and plan to be meeting with legal council from Michigan Association of Counties and have a master ordinance for the 43 counties affected by this change of law. Hopefully, we have uniform ordinances in all of northern Michigan.

Within a few days, we plan to have more answers and solutions available.

Our THANKS to Representative Joel Sheltrown (D) District 103 and his very affective aide Brady Schickinger, for getting the bill introduced and dealing with all 19 amendments.

THANKS to Senator Tony Stamas, (R) District 36 for stepping up to the plate in the Senate and making things happen there.

Every one of you who somehow played a part, by a phone call, e-mail or attended a hearing, whatever, deserve some of the greatest THANKS.