Ever notice the ATV's or UTV's regularly driving on a public highway in Webster County, like right past the County Courthouse and Sheriff's office, or by City Police Officers?
Ever wonder if that is legal?
The answer is no.
Enforcement of the law in this area appears to simply be ignored by police and other law enforcment in Webster County.
West Virginia law prohibits ATV's and UTV's from operating on center-lined highways. The law does not distinguish between ATV's and UTV's. The only exemptions in the law allow ATV's/UTV's from crossing a center-lined road at a 90 degree angle, but only after first coming to a complete stop and a headlight and/or taillight is illuminated. The law further allows riding along the shoulder for not more than ten miles to get from one field or trail to another (if there is no shoulder on the road, the ATV/UTV cannot be driven on the center-lined road).
Here is the full text of WV's law: ATV/UTV Law
One has to ask the obvious question: why is law enforcement ignoring this law?
If the ATV/UTV law is to be ignored, then drivers of cars and trucks should not be required to have a license plate or be insured, or operating brake lights and turn signals, since most ATV's/UTV's do not have them. One would think these laws would be enforced since it is a well known fact that West Virginia consistently leads the nation in ATV/UTV deaths per capita, and ATV's/UTV's are not designed for paved roads.
Exactly how do the law enforcement authorities explain to a car driver who has no license plate or who carries no insurance when they are ticketed for operating a vehicle on a public road, when such law enforcement ignore ATV/UTV drivers who do the same regularly right in front of the Courthouse and other locations in the County?
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