Under this bill, a person need not have an operator's license issued by DOT in
order to operate an OHM off the highways and need not carry liability insurance on
the OHM. With limited exceptions, a person riding on an OHM must wear a helmet
when riding off the highways unless he or she is at least 18 years old.
OHM operation; age restrictions
Under this bill, a person under the age of 12 may not operate an OHM on a
highway under any circumstance and may operate an OHM off a highway only if he
or she is operating a small OHM and he or she is under continuous verbal direction
or control of a parent or guardian or of an adult who has been designated by the
parent or guardian. The bill defines a "small OHM" to be one that has an engine
certified at not more than 100 cubic centimeters or that has an equivalent power unit.
Also, under the bill, anyone who is at least 12 of age and who was born after January
1, 1998, must hold a valid safety certificate issued upon completion of the safety
instruction program described below. These age restrictions do not apply to the
operation of OHMs on private property if the property owner has given consent and
does not hold out the property to the public for OHM use.
This bill requires DNR to establish a safety certification program on OHM laws
and related subjects and to issue certificates to persons who successfully complete

the program. These requirements are similar to the requirements that apply under
current law concerning programs of instruction for operators of ATVs and UTVs.
No person who rents limited use OHMs to the public (OHM renter) may rent
a limited use OHM to a person under 12 years of age. Also, an OHM renter may not
rent a limited use OHM without first making sure that any person under the age of
18 who will be on the OHM has a motorcycle helmet that meets federal standards.
OHM safety grant program and landowner incentive program
This bill requires DNR to establish a program to award grants to organizations
that promote the operation of OHM vehicles in a manner that is safe and responsible
and that does not harm the environment. An organization that receives a grant
under this program must use the grant moneys to promote and provide support to
the program of instruction on OHM laws.
The bill also requires DNR to establish a program under which landowners
receive payments for opening their lands for OHM trails and other corridors for
recreational OHM use. Fees collected for the issuance of nonresident trail passes are
appropriated for making these payments.
Off-highway motorcycle council
The bill creates the Off-Highway Motorcycle Council (council), consisting of
five members who must be members of OHM clubs. The bill authorizes the council
to make recommendations to DNR on matters relating to OHM trails and routes and
on other matters relating to the operation of OHMs.
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:
AB694,1 1Section 1. 15.09 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB694,4,52 15.09 (1) (a) Unless otherwise provided by law, the governor shall appoint the
3members of councils for terms prescribed by law. Except as provided in par. pars. (b)
4and (c), fixed terms shall expire on July 1 and shall, if the term is for an even number
5of years, expire in an odd-numbered year.
AB694,2 6Section 2. 15.09 (1) (c) of the statutes is created to read:
AB694,4,87 15.09 (1) (c) The terms of the members of the off-highway motorcycle council
8shall expire on March 1.
AB694,3 9Section 3. 15.347 (10) of the statutes is created to read:
AB694,5,4
115.347 (10) Off-highway motorcycle council. (a) There is created in the
2department of natural resources an off-highway motorcycle council consisting of 5
3members who are residents of this state and who are appointed for 3-year terms
4expiring March 1.
AB694,5,95 (b) Each member of the off-highway motorcycle council shall be a resident of
6this state, shall be a member of and represent the interests of an off-highway
7motorcycle club, as defined in s. 23.335 (1) (r), and shall be knowledgeable about
8outdoor recreation issues in this state and about trails used by operators of
9off-highway motorcycles.
AB694,5,1010 (c) The off-highway motorcycle council shall meet at least 3 times annually.
AB694,4 11Section 4. 20.005 (3) (schedule) of the statutes: at the appropriate place, insert
12the following amounts for the purposes indicated: - See PDF for table PDF
AB694,5 13Section 5. 20.370 (1) (jb) of the statutes is created to read:
AB694,6,214 20.370 (1) (jb) Off-highway motorcycle administration. From the general fund,
15a sum sufficient equal to the amount determined under s. 23.335 (20) (a) for the
16purposes specified under 23.335 (20) (b) and (d), for issuing and renewing
17off-highway motorcycle registration under s. 23.335 (3), (4), and (5), for grants under

1the safety grant program under s. 23.335 (15), and for state and local law
2enforcement operations related to off-highway motorcycles.
AB694,6 3Section 6. 20.370 (3) (ay) of the statutes is created to read:
AB694,6,64 20.370 (3) (ay) Off-highway motorcycle safety certification program. All
5moneys remitted to the department under s. 23.335 (14) for the off-highway
6motorcycle safety certification program under s. 23.335 (14).
AB694,7 7Section 7. 20.370 (5) (cz) of the statutes is created to read:
AB694,6,128 20.370 (5) (cz) Recreation aids — off-highway motorcycle landowner incentive
9program.
Biennially, the amounts in the schedule for incentive payments to
10landowners for public all-terrain vehicle corridors under s. 23.335 (16). All moneys
11received by the department under s. 23.335 (16) shall be credited to this
12appropriation account.
AB694,8 13Section 8. 23.09 (23) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB694,6,1714 23.09 (23) (a) In this subsection, "approval" means any type of approval or
15authorization issued by the department under ch. 29, subch. V. of ch. 30, or s. 23.33
16(2), 23.335 (3) or (5), 27.01, or 350.12, including a license, permit, certificate, stamp,
17tag, registration, or vehicle admission receipt.
AB694,9 18Section 9. 23.119 (1) (at) of the statutes is created to read:
AB694,6,2019 23.119 (1) (at) "Off-highway motorcycle" has the meaning given in s. 23.335
20(1) (q).
AB694,10 21Section 10. 23.119 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB694,6,2422 23.119 (1) (b) "Off-highway vehicle" means a motor-driven craft or vehicle
23principally manufactured for off-highway use but does not include a snowmobile, an
24all-terrain vehicle, or utility terrain vehicle, or an off-highway motorcycle.
AB694,11 25Section 11. 23.179 of the statutes is created to read:
AB694,7,5
123.179 Off-highway motorcycle council. The off-highway motorcycle
2council may make recommendations to the department on matters relating to
3off-highway motorcycle corridors, as defined in s. 23.335 (1) (s), and off-highway
4motorcycle routes, as defined in s. 23.335 (1) (u), and on any other matters relating
5to the operation of off-highway motorcycles.
AB694,12 6Section 12. 23.33 (4z) (title) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB694,7,77 23.33 (4z) (title) Public education program regarding intoxicated operation.
AB694,13 8Section 13. 23.33 (5m) (title) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB694,7,99 23.33 (5m) (title) Safety grant program.
AB694,14 10Section 14. 23.33 (5m) (c) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB694,7,1411 23.33 (5m) (c) (intro.) An organization receiving a grant under this subsection
12shall use the grant moneys to promote and provide support to the safety certification
13program established under sub. (5) (d) by conducting activities that include all any
14of the following:
AB694,15 15Section 15. 23.33 (5m) (c) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB694,7,1816 23.33 (5m) (c) 2. Providing assistance to the department in locating, recruiting,
17and training instructors for the safety certification program established under sub.
18(5) (d).
AB694,16 19Section 16. 23.33 (5m) (c) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB694,7,2220 23.33 (5m) (c) 3. Attempting to increase participation by current and future
21all-terrain vehicle operators and owners in the safety certification program
22established under sub. (5) (d).
AB694,17 23Section 17. 23.335 of the statutes is created to read:
AB694,7,24 2423.335 Off-highway motorcycles. (1) Definitions. In this section:
AB694,7,2525 (a) "Accompanied" has the meaning given in s. 23.33 (1) (a).
AB694,8,2
1(b) "Agricultural purpose" includes a purpose related to the transportation of
2farm implements, equipment, supplies, or products on a farm or between farms.
AB694,8,33 (c) "Alcohol beverages" has the meaning specified under s. 125.02 (1).
AB694,8,44 (d) "Alcohol concentration" has the meaning given in s. 340.01 (1v).
AB694,8,65 (e) "Approved public treatment facility" has the meaning specified under s.
651.45 (2) (c).
AB694,8,77 (f) "All-terrain vehicle route" has the meaning given in s. 23.33 (1) (c).
AB694,8,88 (g) "All-terrain vehicle trail" has the meaning given in s. 23.33 (1) (d).
AB694,8,109 (h) "Electric personal assistive mobility device" has the meaning given in s.
10340.01 (15pm).
AB694,8,1111 (i) "Highway" has the meaning given in s. 340.01 (22).
AB694,8,1312 (j) "Immediate family" means persons who are related as spouses, who are
13related as siblings, or who are related as parent and child.
AB694,8,1414 (k) "Intoxicant" means any alcohol beverage.
AB694,8,1715 (L) "Intoxicated operation of an off-highway motorcycle law" means sub. (12)
16(a) or (b) or a local ordinance in conformity therewith or, if the operation of an
17off-highway motorcycle is involved, s. 940.09 or 940.25.
AB694,8,1818 (m) "Junked" means dismantled for parts or scrapped.
AB694,8,2119 (n) "Law enforcement officer" means an officer of the state traffic patrol under
20s. 110.07 (1), inspector under s. 110.07 (3), a conservation warden appointed by the
21department under s. 23.10, a county sheriff, or a municipal peace officer.
AB694,8,2322 (o) "Limited use off-highway motorcycle" means an off-highway motorcycle
23that is not registered by the department of transportation for use on highways.
AB694,8,2424 (p) "Local governmental unit" means a city, village, town, or county.
AB694,9,3
1(q) "Off-highway motorcycle" means a 2-wheeled motor vehicle that is
2straddled by the operator, that is equipped with handlebars, and that is designed for
3use off a highway, regardless of whether it is also designed for use on a highway.
AB694,9,64 (r) "Off-highway motorcycle club" means a club consisting of individuals that
5promotes use of off-highway motorcycles for recreational purposes off the highways
6within this state.
AB694,9,107 (s) "Off-highway motorcycle corridor" means an off-highway motorcycle trail
8or other established off-highway motorcycle corridor that is open to the public for the
9operation of off-highway motorcycles for recreational purposes but does not include
10an off-highway motorcycle route.
AB694,9,1211 (t) "Off-highway motorcycle dealer" means a person who is engaged in this
12state in the sale of off-highway motorcycles for a profit at retail.
AB694,9,1513 (u) "Off-highway motorcycle route" means a highway or sidewalk designated
14for recreational use by operators of off-highway motorcycles by the governmental
15agency having jurisdiction.
AB694,9,1916 (v) "Off-highway motorcycle trail" means a marked corridor on public property
17or on private lands subject to public easement or lease, designated for recreational
18use by operators of off-highway motorcycles by the governmental agency having
19jurisdiction.
AB694,9,2120 (w) "Off-highway vehicle" means an all-terrain vehicle, an off-highway
21motorcycle, or a utility terrain vehicle.
AB694,9,2422 (x) "Off-highway vehicle association" means a club or other association
23consisting of individuals that promotes the recreational operation of any
24combination of the following:
AB694,9,2525 1. All-terrain vehicles.
AB694,10,1
12. Off-highway motorcycles.
AB694,10,22 3. Utility terrain vehicles.
AB694,10,43 (y) "Off the highways" means off-highway motorcycle corridors, off-highway
4motorcycle routes, and areas where operation is authorized under sub. (10) or (11).
AB694,10,75 (z) "Operate" means to exercise physical control over the speed or direction of
6an off-highway motorcycle or to physically manipulate or activate any of the controls
7of an off-highway motorcycle necessary to put it in motion.
AB694,10,108 (zb) "Operation" means the exercise of physical control over the speed or
9direction of an off-highway motorcycle or the physical manipulation or activation of
10any of the controls of off-highway motorcycle necessary to put it in motion.
AB694,10,1311 (zc) "Operator" means a person who operates an off-highway motorcycle, who
12is responsible for the operation of an off-highway motorcycle, or who is supervising
13the operation of an off-highway motorcycle.
AB694,10,1614 (zd) "Owner" means a person who has lawful possession of an off-highway
15motorcycle by virtue of legal title or an equitable interest in the off-highway
16motorcycle which entitles the person to possession of the off-highway motorcycle.
AB694,10,1917 (ze) "Purpose of authorized analysis" means for the purpose of determining or
18obtaining evidence of the presence, quantity, or concentration of any intoxicant in a
19person's blood, breath, or urine.
AB694,10,2120 (zf) "Refusal law" means sub. (12) (h) or a local ordinance in conformity
21therewith.
AB694,10,2322 (zg) "Registration documentation" means an off-highway motorcycle
23registration certificate, a validated registration receipt, or a registration decal.
AB694,11,3
1(zh) "Small off-highway motorcycle" means an off-highway motorcycle that
2has either an engine certified by the manufacturer at not more than 100 cubic
3centimeters or an equivalent power unit.
AB694,11,44 (zi) "Snowmobile" has the meaning given in s. 340.01 (58a).
AB694,11,55 (zj) "Snowmobile route" has the meaning given in s. 350.01 (16).
AB694,11,66 (zk) "Snowmobile trail" has the meaning given in s. 350.01 (17).
AB694,11,87 (zL) "Test facility" means a test facility or agency prepared to administer tests
8under s. 343.305 (2).
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