- Jan 1, 2002
- 794
- 0
Ogemaw county is on the verge of approving an ordinance that will allow ORV use on county roads. We need people at this meeting to support the ordinance by at least 2 to 1 because of what happened in Oscoda County when they recently had a public meeting regarding this same issue (some local opposition).
Please make an effort to attend this meeting and be prepared to make a brief statement because they keep track of positive and negative comments from the audience. Presenting something as simple as "I support this ordinance" will suffice. If you want to elaborate, that's great.
The Cycle Conservation Club of Michigan supports this ordinance and looks forward to other counties implementing similar legislation to better our sport. Ogemaw county, if this passes, will join Montmorency, Presque Isle and Cheboygan counties who have similar laws already in effect.
The meeting is at the West Branch courthouse September 22nd at 6:30 p.m. It is a big grey building on the corner of M-55 and M-30 officially called the Ogemaw County Building. From the south take exit 212 off I-75, turn right go approximately 3 miles through town, the building is on the left. The meeting is in the commissioners chambers on the 1st floor.
If you can't make the meeting, you can email the county clerk with your supportive comments for the ordinance. Send emails to ogemawcoclerk@m33access.com (subject: ORV ordinance)
Here's a copy of the ordinance as it currently stands:
State of Michigan ? County of Ogemaw
ORV Ordinance
An ordinance for the regulation of operation of ORVÍs in Ogemaw County on roadways.
Sec. 1. As used in this ordinance, the following definitions shall apply:
a) ñPublic Roadî means that portion of a county road that is improved, maintained and used by the public for vehicular travel, including any improved shoulders.
b) ñOperateî means to rid in or on, and be in actual physical control of the operation of an ORV.
c) An ORV is defined as a motor vehicle with forward movement made possible by the use of two, three, four or six wheels with surface contact made by rubber tires. The vehicle must have a measurement from the ground surface to the base of seat height greater than eight-teen inches. On three, four or six wheeled vehicles the wheel rim diameter may not exceed thirteen inches.
d) ñRoad Surfaceî means that portion of a roadway improved, designated, or ordinarily used for vehicular travel and does not include within its meaning the shoulder or right-of way.
Sec. 2 An ORV may not be operated on the road surface of any roadway, with the exception of sections of roadways that do not have an adequate shoulder of roadway or bridge crossing allowing the ORV to avoid contact with the road surface. In these cases the ORV must remain to the far right of the roadway contacting the least amount of road surface as possible.
Sec. 3 An ORV may be operated on the roadway surface of any roadway for the purpose of crossing the roadway. The operator must bring the ORV to a complete stop and cross at a right angle to the roadway.
Sec 4 An Orv may not be operated on the road surface, roadway, shoulder or right-of-way of highways M-55 or M-33 except:
a) In a life-threatening emergency.
b) For the purpose of getting from one area to another, and operator may cross such roadway at right angles. The operator shall bring the ORV to a complete stop prior to crossing a roadway and shall yield the right-of-way to incoming traffic.
Sec. 5 An Orv may be operated on the shoulder of the roadway, in the direction of traffic in a single file manner, of all public roadways in Ogemaw County with the exception of roadways prohibited by sec. 4.
Sec. 6 An ORV may not be operated on a public roadway at a rate of speed higher than a posted or greater that 30 mph.
Sec. 7 An ORV must yield to all pedestrian and automobile vehicular traffic.
Sec. 8 An ORV must operate outside and not within the city limits of West Branch and Rose City unless designated routes are established by a city ordinance.
Sec. 9 An ORV may not be operated on a public roadway between the hours of 11:00 pm and 6:00 am.
Sec. 10 An ORV wit a width greater than 50 inches, must have a orange or red flag on a pole that measures at least six feet height and properly secured to the rear left hand side.
Sec. 11 Any person who violates this ordinance is guilty of a civil infraction, punishable by a fine of $60.00 upon the first conviction and a $100.00 for any subsequent conviction.
Sec. 12 Any person convicted of causing destruction to the road surface of the roadway or shoulder of the roadway will be held responsible for full restitution to repair the roadway to its original condition and will be guilty of a misdemeanor with an additional fine of $250.00
Please make an effort to attend this meeting and be prepared to make a brief statement because they keep track of positive and negative comments from the audience. Presenting something as simple as "I support this ordinance" will suffice. If you want to elaborate, that's great.
The Cycle Conservation Club of Michigan supports this ordinance and looks forward to other counties implementing similar legislation to better our sport. Ogemaw county, if this passes, will join Montmorency, Presque Isle and Cheboygan counties who have similar laws already in effect.
The meeting is at the West Branch courthouse September 22nd at 6:30 p.m. It is a big grey building on the corner of M-55 and M-30 officially called the Ogemaw County Building. From the south take exit 212 off I-75, turn right go approximately 3 miles through town, the building is on the left. The meeting is in the commissioners chambers on the 1st floor.
If you can't make the meeting, you can email the county clerk with your supportive comments for the ordinance. Send emails to ogemawcoclerk@m33access.com (subject: ORV ordinance)
Here's a copy of the ordinance as it currently stands:
State of Michigan ? County of Ogemaw
ORV Ordinance
An ordinance for the regulation of operation of ORVÍs in Ogemaw County on roadways.
Sec. 1. As used in this ordinance, the following definitions shall apply:
a) ñPublic Roadî means that portion of a county road that is improved, maintained and used by the public for vehicular travel, including any improved shoulders.
b) ñOperateî means to rid in or on, and be in actual physical control of the operation of an ORV.
c) An ORV is defined as a motor vehicle with forward movement made possible by the use of two, three, four or six wheels with surface contact made by rubber tires. The vehicle must have a measurement from the ground surface to the base of seat height greater than eight-teen inches. On three, four or six wheeled vehicles the wheel rim diameter may not exceed thirteen inches.
d) ñRoad Surfaceî means that portion of a roadway improved, designated, or ordinarily used for vehicular travel and does not include within its meaning the shoulder or right-of way.
Sec. 2 An ORV may not be operated on the road surface of any roadway, with the exception of sections of roadways that do not have an adequate shoulder of roadway or bridge crossing allowing the ORV to avoid contact with the road surface. In these cases the ORV must remain to the far right of the roadway contacting the least amount of road surface as possible.
Sec. 3 An ORV may be operated on the roadway surface of any roadway for the purpose of crossing the roadway. The operator must bring the ORV to a complete stop and cross at a right angle to the roadway.
Sec 4 An Orv may not be operated on the road surface, roadway, shoulder or right-of-way of highways M-55 or M-33 except:
a) In a life-threatening emergency.
b) For the purpose of getting from one area to another, and operator may cross such roadway at right angles. The operator shall bring the ORV to a complete stop prior to crossing a roadway and shall yield the right-of-way to incoming traffic.
Sec. 5 An Orv may be operated on the shoulder of the roadway, in the direction of traffic in a single file manner, of all public roadways in Ogemaw County with the exception of roadways prohibited by sec. 4.
Sec. 6 An ORV may not be operated on a public roadway at a rate of speed higher than a posted or greater that 30 mph.
Sec. 7 An ORV must yield to all pedestrian and automobile vehicular traffic.
Sec. 8 An ORV must operate outside and not within the city limits of West Branch and Rose City unless designated routes are established by a city ordinance.
Sec. 9 An ORV may not be operated on a public roadway between the hours of 11:00 pm and 6:00 am.
Sec. 10 An ORV wit a width greater than 50 inches, must have a orange or red flag on a pole that measures at least six feet height and properly secured to the rear left hand side.
Sec. 11 Any person who violates this ordinance is guilty of a civil infraction, punishable by a fine of $60.00 upon the first conviction and a $100.00 for any subsequent conviction.
Sec. 12 Any person convicted of causing destruction to the road surface of the roadway or shoulder of the roadway will be held responsible for full restitution to repair the roadway to its original condition and will be guilty of a misdemeanor with an additional fine of $250.00
