The drive for a county-wide off-road vehicle ordinance continues.
The Leighton Township Board Thursday evening adopted on a 4-1 vote a resolution to encourage the Allegan County Board of Commissioners to come up with an ordinance that would establish rules for ORVs in all 24 townships.
Clerk Mary Lou Nieuwenhuis cast the lone dissenting vote, expressing her opposition to ORVs on main roads and driven by children.
Scott Beltman of Monterey Township, who spoke to members of the Martin Township Board Wednesday night, said the goal for his group of advocates is to have as many as 20 townships adopt a resolution in support. He said it’s better to have a county-wide ordinance rather than 24 different sets of rules.
He said there are 60 counties he knows of who have adopted such ordinances, and not one of them since has sought to repeal them. He added that Leighton would be the 10th township in the county to approve.
“The genie’s already out of the bottle,” Beltman insisted, noting that many farmers are using ORVs, as well as rural residents.
Trustee John Hooker added, “I think it’s wise to let Allegan County do it (set the rules and polcies for enforcement).”
Supervisor Steve Deer said, “I think snowmobiles do more damage to our roads than ORVs.”
In other business Thursday night, the Township Board:
- Approved the request of the Leighton Township Library Board to place a request for 1.1 mill on the Nov. 3 general election ballot.
- Was told by Citizens’ Road Committee Chairman Steve Shoemaker that a grass-roots campaign door to door for a road millage this year would not be feasible because of the Coronavirus. The township plans to have 137th Avenue between Division and Kalamazoo Avenue paved in 2021, but that is all.
- Was told by Allegan County Deputy Bernard Austof that the only way to curb a recent rash of larcenies inside parked vehicles is for residents to have them locked.
- Noted there were four building permits issues in August, bringing the year to date total to 23 permits at a value of $5.3 million.
Copied directly from the Michigan Secretary of States website pertaining to ORV use on public streets.
Titling ORVs or ATVs for on-road use
Under Michigan law, certain side-by-side off-road utility vehicles may be retitled as an assembled vehicle for on-road use. Vehicles fitting this description include the John Deere “Gator” and Polaris “Ranger.” You must follow the secretary of state’s standard assembled vehicle title procedure. The vehicle must be retro-fitted with high- and low-beam headlights, brake lights, taillights, turn signals, horn, windshield, windshield wipers and washers, independent parking brake, street-legal tires and all other on-road equipment required by the Michigan Vehicle Code. It will be retitled as an “assembled vehicle” and issued a new vehicle identification number.
NOTE: If the ORV title shows a lienholder, a signed letter from the lienholder authorizing the change to an on-road assembled title is required. The letter should list the VIN, year and make of the ORV.
Two-wheeled ORVs (motorcycles known as “dirt bikes” or “trail bikes”) also can be retitled for on-road use. A vehicle inspection is required to verify that the motorcycle has the required safety equipment.
Registering ORVs or ATVs for on-road use
To obtain a Michigan registration and license plate for an on-road ORV or ATV, you must have Michigan no-fault insurance. Be aware that an increasing number of insurance companies won’t insure these altered vehicles for on-road use because of liability and safety concerns. Before modifying an ORV or ATV, check to make sure your vehicle can be insured.