Buchanan County, Virginia OHV Road Use Laws, Certain Roads (Third Party Website) In practice, counties often have unique rules that are different from statewide laws. For example, ORVs in Buchanan County can drive on roads at speeds of 25 miles per hour or less and up to 5 miles on roads with higher speed limits (although vehicle speed still cannot exceed 25 miles per hour). In addition, most roads in the Lee Ranger district (under the administration of the Forest Service) are fully open to PHEV movement. Roads are approved by local ordinances or county permits. There aren`t many ATV laws in Virginia, so let`s get to it. Continuing our series of articles analyzing ATV laws in each state that emerged from this article, this article examines ATV laws in Virginia. It should also be noted that although I am a lawyer, I am not your lawyer and do not give legal advice. If you have any questions, you should consult a local lawyer. The rules and laws described here do not apply if you are driving on your own private property or if ATVs are used for farming activities. As a general rule, you are not permitted to ride an ATV or UTV in Virginia on public roads or other public property unless authorized by the appropriate authorities. With a street-approved UTV, you can safely drive from the shoreline to Blue Ridge Drive. You can even continue the walk to Tennessee or fall into an OHV area like Windrock.
Imagine tackling city roads, country roads, highways, and highway trips, all in your UTV. Our team of experts can help you by registering your UTV as road legal on your behalf while planning your first legal road adventure. 1. On public roads or other public property, except (i) in cases authorized by the competent authorities, (ii) to the extent necessary to cross a public highway by the most direct route, or (iii) by law enforcement officers, firefighters or emergency responders; 46.2-915.1. Off-highway vehicles and off-highway motorcycles; Punishment. The Stone Mountain trail system consists of 32 miles of intermediate to advanced routes. Nine scenic lookouts offer views of southwest Virginia that the public has never seen before, with picnic tables and relaxation areas at several lookouts. This trail is open to ATVs and off-road motorcycles. 7. These off-road vehicles may travel at speeds not exceeding 25 miles per hour.
Located in the southwest corner of Virginia, Spearhead Trails welcomes ATVs, off-road motorcycles, mountain bikes, and hikers to explore hundreds of miles of connecting trails through mountainous terrain. The trail system currently has five distinct trails with different levels of difficulty for cyclists of all experience levels. Permits are required for each driver and passenger, and helmets must be worn at all times. The Spearhead trails are open from day to darkness. Overall, while a street-legal UTV doesn`t meet Virginia`s legal definition of a motorcycle or motorcycle, local officials might still expect occupants to wear helmets, as they are required for non-legal UTVs for the road and open-top car wheels. For these reasons, and for safety reasons, we recommend wearing helmets and eye protection when driving a UTV on public roads in Virginia. You don`t need to register your ATV or UTV in Virginia. Although state registration is not required, most counties require permits to be obtained before using the public road. In addition, local areas often require certain equipment. Whether necessary or not, we strongly recommend having basic amenities such as functional headlights and taillights, a muffler and brakes that work well, as well as a windshield and rollover protection before driving on public roads.
Contact your local VDD or local law enforcement to find out what is needed in your area. PHEVs can only travel on these roads during the day. 5. With a passenger at all times, unless such an all-terrain vehicle is designed and equipped to operate with more than one driver. Google Usercard: Virginia Legal OHV Trails by Matt Alexander (Not our map, unofficial and unconfirmed) Virginia Motor Vehicle Code Chapter 8 Section 13 (Motorcycles, Mopeds and Off-Road Vehicles) 5. Drivers of off-highway vehicles must comply with all traffic rules applicable to other motor vehicles while travelling on the highway; Buchanan County has some exceptions to normal restrictions in Virginia. You may drive an ATV or UTV on highways in Buchanan County if the following conditions are met: G. For the purposes of this section, “off-highway vehicle” has the meaning described in § 46.2-100. 4. On someone else`s property without the written consent of the owner of the property or as expressly permitted by law; or The Jawbone/Coal Canyon Trail on the Jewell Valley Trail covers 10,000 acres with 4 lookouts.
This process has two names because it is bisected by the county line between Tazewell County and Buchanan County. The trail changes its name from Jawbone Trail to Coal Canyon in the Jewell Valley on the county border. This trail is unique in that it allows 4-wheeled vehicles that are legal on the road like jeeps, in addition to ATVs, UTVs, side-by-side bikes, and is well suited for dual-sport bikes, making it easier for users to find the rating of these trails than most. The Ridgeview trail system runs through Haysi, combining tree-lined trails and open ridges for many scenic views. Ridgeview consists of over 75 miles of hiking trails and offers a mix of beginner, intermediate and expert routes. This trail is open to ATVs and off-road motorcycles. Every new ATV over 50cc must be titled in Virginia. You can also apply for a title for a used ATV if you need it to get a loan or provide proof of ownership.