PHOENIX — *Editor's Note: This article has since been updated to clarify some of the bill's language.*
Gov. Katie Hobbs has signed legislation introducing new restrictions and requirements for operating off-highway vehicles in Arizona.
Arizona Senate Bill 1567 requires someone to possess a valid driver's license before operating these types of recreational vehicles on roads or highways maintained by the government. The bill further stipulates that the definition of "highway" under this license requirement "does not include routes designated for off-highway vehicle use."
VERSIÓN EN ESPAÑOL: La gobernadora firma ley de nuevas reglas para vehículos todo terreno que operan en Arizona
If a child under 12 is caught violating the state's OHV operation restrictions, then a citation shall be issued to the child's parents. A juvenile between 12 and 15 may receive a citation if they violate the licensing requirement.
Dirt bikes are added to the types of vehicles listed under the law's definition of an "off-highway vehicle."
The legislation additionally instructs the Arizona Game and Fish Department to certify a safety course in off-road driving. Starting in 2025, a person will be expected to complete this safety course and provide proof of completion to the transportation department.
DeAnna Bindley said she had been working on off-highway vehicle issues for years and noted that the new law aims to provide safety and clarity on the laws for drivers.
"The OHV bill or laws were written probably 15 years ago so it was really time for an update," Bindley said. "The state of Utah did a mandatory education class a year ago, and we're hearing they're having success with that, so that was something we [thought could work here]."
The safety course requirement will be repealed in June 2027.
SB 1567 further redefines existing law to ensure Arizona's liquor and open container laws apply to all "self-propelled vehicles," rather than vehicles primarily designed for public highways.
"The same liquor laws, open container laws that apply to cars driving on the roads now apply to recreational vehicles," Brian Snyder an attorney said, "And I think that's really important because that will help keep people safe."
State Sen. Sine Kerr, a Republican from District 25, said she introduced the bill after a friend in the Sedona area informed her about how OHV usage was disrupting and destructing the terrain.
The bill passed through the Arizona Legislature with bipartisan support. Hobbs signed the bill into law this week.
More info about the bill can be read below:
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