Statewide Iowa — A compromise plan to let all-terrain vehicles travel on more county and state highways has cleared the Iowa House.
Representative Bobby Kaufmann of Wilton says new safety measures are incorporated in his original plan.
If the bill becomes law, ATVs driving on local highways would have to be equipped with headlights, tail lights, turn signals and mirrors, plus the drivers would have to be at least 18 and have liability insurance. City officials would be able to prohibit ATVs from driving within city limits. Representative Christina Bohannan of Iowa City says the bill also sets a 35 mile an hour speed limit for ATVs driving on county or state highways.
Existing county ordinances designating where ATVs may travel on local highways would remain in effect, but county boards of supervisors would have to get a local ATV club’s sign off if any changes are made in the future. Representative Dennis Cohoon of Burlington says that’s a loss of local control.
Cohoon says ATVs aren’t meant to be driven on highways and he was one of 29 House members to vote against the bill. There were 64 yes votes, though, sending the bill to the Senate for review.
