Unlike the LUV pilot program, the UTV pilot program prohibits a person from
operating a UTV on a designated ATV route or trail unless the UTV is registered by
DNR. The bill authorizes DNR to register and charge registration fees for UTVs in
the same manner as it registers and charges registration fees for ATVs that are
registered for public use under current law. The bill provides that certain laws that
apply to ATVs under current law apply to UTVs under the pilot program, including
traffic citation laws, rules of operation, prohibitions on operation while intoxicated,
noise limits, and certain equipment requirements. Unlike the LUV pilot program
under prior law, the bill does not require a person who operates a UTV under the UTV
pilot program to have a motor vehicle operator's license but instead prohibits a
person who is younger than 16 from operating a UTV. The bill also requires a person
who is born on or after January 1, 1988, and who operates a UTV to hold a valid
all-terrain vehicle safety certificate.
The bill provides that the UTV pilot program does not apply after June 30, 2012.
For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be
printed as an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
SB448, s. 1 1Section 1. 20.370 (1) (iv) of the statutes is created to read:
SB448,2,42 20.370 (1) (iv) Utility terrain vehicle fees. All moneys received from registration
3fees under s. 23.33 (11p) (f) for administration of the utility terrain vehicle pilot
4program under s. 23.33 (11p).
SB448, s. 2 5Section 2. 20.370 (1) (iv) of the statutes, as created by 2009 Wisconsin Act ....
6(this act), is repealed.
SB448, s. 3 7Section 3. 20.370 (5) (cu) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB448,3,28 20.370 (5) (cu) Recreation aids — all-terrain vehicle project aids. As a
9continuing appropriation, the amounts in the schedule from moneys received from
10all-terrain vehicle fees under s. 23.33 (2) (c) to (e) to provide aid to towns, villages,
11cities, counties, and federal agencies for nonstate all-terrain vehicle projects, and to

1provide grants under s. 23.33 (11m) (g) to counties and municipalities participating
2in the lightweight utility vehicle pilot program
.
SB448, s. 4 3Section 4. 23.33 (11m) of the statutes is repealed.
SB448, s. 5 4Section 5. 23.33 (11p) of the statutes is created to read:
SB448,3,55 23.33 (11p) Utility terrain vehicle pilot program. (a) In this subsection:
SB448,3,76 1. "Federal agency" means a federal agency that receives state aid for a
7nonstate all-terrain vehicle project under sub. (9) (b).
SB448,3,118 2. "Golf cart" means a vehicle whose speed attainable in one mile does not
9exceed 20 miles per hour on a paved, level surface, and that is designed and intended
10to convey one or more persons and equipment to play the game of golf in an area
11designated as a golf course.
SB448,3,1412 3. "Low pressure tire" means a tire that has a minimum width of 6 inches and
13that is designed to be inflated with an operating pressure not to exceed 20 pounds
14per square inch as recommended by the manufacturer.
SB448,3,1815 4. "Low-speed vehicle" means a low-speed vehicle, as defined in 49 CFR 571.3,
16that satisfies the equipment standards under 49 CFR 571.500 and that was
17originally manufactured to meet the applicable equipment standards under 49 CFR
18571.500
.
SB448,3,1919 5. "Municipality" means a city, village, or town.
SB448,3,2220 6. "Utility terrain vehicle" means a motor driven device, other than a golf cart
21or low-speed vehicle, that is designed to be used primarily off of a highway and that
22has, and was originally manufactured with, all of the following:
SB448,3,2323 a. A gross weight of more than 900 pounds but not more than 1,999 pounds.
SB448,3,2424 b. Four or more low-pressure tires.
SB448,3,2525 c. A cargo box or dump box.
SB448,4,1
1d. A steering wheel.
SB448,4,22 e. A tail light.
SB448,4,33 f. A brake light.
SB448,4,44 g. Two headlights.
SB448,4,55 h. A width of not more than 65 inches.
SB448,4,76 i. Seats for at least 2 occupants, all of which seating is designed not to be
7straddled.
SB448,4,98 j. A system of seat belts, or a similar system, for restraining each occupant of
9the device in the event of an accident.
SB448,4,1110 k. A system of structural members designed to reduce the likelihood that an
11occupant would be crushed as the result of a rollover of the device.
SB448,4,1612 (b) The department of natural resources, in consultation with the department
13of transportation, shall administer a pilot program to investigate the effects of using
14utility terrain vehicles on routes and trails that are used and authorized to be used
15by all-terrain vehicles, to evaluate whether it is feasible and appropriate to expand
16the allowable use of utility terrain vehicles.
SB448,4,2417 (c) 1. The department, any federal agency, and any county is eligible to
18participate in the pilot program. If a county elects to participate in the pilot program,
19the governing body of the county shall adopt a resolution to that effect. If a county
20adopts such a resolution, the resolution shall apply to all of the municipalities within
21the county unless the governing body of a municipality adopts a resolution that
22provides that the municipality will not participate in the pilot program. The
23governing body of each participating county or municipality may withdraw from the
24pilot program before July 1, 2012, by adopting a resolution to that effect.
SB448,5,4
12. If a county or municipality adopts a resolution under subd. 1., its clerk shall
2immediately send a copy of the resolution to the department and to the office of any
3law enforcement agency of the county or municipality having jurisdiction over any
4all-terrain vehicle route or trail designated under par. (d).
SB448,5,75 (d) The department or a federal agency, county, or municipality that
6participates in the pilot program may designate any of the following located within
7their respective jurisdictions:
SB448,5,98 1. All-terrain vehicle routes and trails that may be used by operators of utility
9terrain vehicles.
SB448,5,1110 2. All-terrain vehicle routes and trails upon which utility terrain vehicle use
11is prohibited.
SB448,5,1312 (e) For the purposes of all of the following, a utility terrain vehicle that is
13operated as authorized under this subsection is considered an all-terrain vehicle:
SB448,5,1514 1. Sections 345.11 (1r), 346.02 (11), 349.02, 885.235 (1g) and (1k), 895.049, and
15901.053.
SB448,5,1616 2. Subsections (3), (3g), (4), (4c) to (4x), (6), (7), (10), (12), and (13).
SB448,5,1717 3. Local ordinances enacted by a county or municipality under sub. (11).
SB448,6,218 (f) No person may operate or give permission for the operation of, a utility
19terrain vehicle on an all-terrain vehicle route or trail designated by the department
20or a federal agency, county, or municipality under par. (d) 1. unless the utility terrain
21vehicle is registered for public use by the department. The department shall register
22a utility terrain vehicle and collect fees for registration of a utility terrain vehicle
23under this subsection in the same manner as the department registers and collects
24fees for registration of all-terrain vehicles for public use under sub. (2). All fees

1collected by the department under this subsection shall be credited to the
2appropriation account under s. 20.370 (1) (iv).
SB448,6,83 (g) No person under the age of 16 may operate a utility terrain vehicle on an
4all-terrain vehicle route or trail designated under par. (d) 1. No person who is at least
516 years of age and who is born on or after January 1, 1988, may operate a utility
6terrain vehicle on an all-terrain vehicle route or trail designated under par. (d) 1.
7unless he or she holds a valid all-terrain vehicle safety certificate issued under sub.
8(5) (d).
SB448,6,149 (h) 1. The department of natural resources, in consultation with the
10department of transportation and with the federal agencies, counties, and
11municipalities participating in the pilot program, shall evaluate the effect of using
12utility terrain vehicles on all-terrain vehicle routes and trails. Except as provided
13in subd. 2., the department of natural resources shall report the results of its
14evaluation to the legislature under s. 13.172 (2) no later than June 30, 2012.
SB448,6,2015 2. The department may report the results of its evaluation under subd. 1 in the
16form of an addendum to the evaluation submitted by the department under s. 23.33
17(11m) (g), 2007 stats. The department is not required to report the results of its
18evaluation as specified under subd. 1. if the department's evaluation is substantially
19the same as the evaluation submitted by the department under s. 23.33 (11m) (g),
202007 stats.
SB448,6,2121 (i) The pilot program under this subsection does not apply after June 30, 2012.
SB448, s. 6 22Section 6. Effective dates. This act takes effect on the day after publication,
23except as follows:
SB448,7,2
1(1) The repeal of section 20.370 (1) (iv) of the statutes takes effect on July 1,
22012.
SB448,7,33 (End)
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