WASHOUGAL — The city of Washougal is adopting a rule that allows wheeled ATVs on most city streets. But don’t expect the city to turn into something out of “Mad Max.” The ordinance comes with speed limits and safety requirements, including licensing.
The Washougal City Council voted to approve the ordinance regulating ATVs at the council’s Nov. 4 meeting.
“They are very handy if you’re just tooling around town, and they’re easy on fuel — they get pretty good gas mileage,” said Washougal Police Chief Wendi Steinbronn, who crafted the ordinance. “They’re very popular, and attractive for tourists. Even though we don’t have anything in place now, there’s always the possibility that a shop could rent these out and people could tour around town on them.”
The Legislature passed a law in 2013 allowing wheeled ATVs on public roadways with a speed limit of 35 mph or less if the city has approved an ordinance.
Wheeled ATVs have specific requirements in Washington from height and width to wheel base and tire pressure. Dune buggies, snowmobiles and golf carts do not qualify as wheeled ATVs.
At a September council meeting, Washougal resident Robert Bromley said he had recently been pulled over by a Washougal police officer, who told him he wasn’t allowed to drive his wheeled ATV in the city, despite following the state’s rules.
“I did the modifications, I got it certified, a plate and tags from the state of Washington, and I got insurance on it,” Bromley told The Post-Record. “Then I get told that I can’t drive it on the street. As long as everybody’s legal about it, then I can’t see any reason not to have an ordinance for it.”
Bromley followed up at two subsequent council meetings and assisted Steinbronn in her efforts to draft the ordinance.
State law also dictates drivers must be 18 years or older; have a valid driver’s license; carry proof of liability insurance; and are subject to all rules applicable to motorcycles, including helmet-wearing unless the vehicle is equipped with seatbelts and a roll bar, according to state law. Vehicles must have headlights, tail lamps, a stop lamp, reflectors, turn signals, a horn, a spark arrester and a muffling device, among other requirements.
“I’ve driven one of these in a different state, and I have to say, it was a heck of a lot of fun,” Councilor David Fritz said. “As I remember, at least the device I was on, it was extremely loud — like, so loud. I drove by houses, and I thought to myself, ‘If one of these was driving by my house, it would be really annoying.’ ”
Steinbronn said wheeled ATVs “have to follow the same (noise) requirements for vehicles and motorcycles.”
“I don’t know that we can guarantee that there won’t be any noise issues,” City Manager David Scott said.
Bromely said excessive noise shouldn’t be too much of a concern.
“I have a Harley that’s louder,” he said of his wheeled ATV. “I mean, unless you’re really revving it, it’s not very loud at all.”
Mayor David Stuebe said the city should require wheeled ATV drivers to sign a form that indicates that they’ve read Washington’s requirements and intend to adhere to them.
“You’ve got all the requirements up there, I think it would be nice for (the drivers) to have one place to read them before they’re authorized to drive in Washougal,” he said. “What about kids (who might want to) drive 55 and jump on Highway 14 — how do we educate those guys? I think it would help our police by having them read the education, sign it and agree to it.”
Cities are required to provide a public list of all the roadways on which wheeled ATVs may operate, and to make that list accessible to the public from the main page of their websites. ATVs are prohibited from sidewalks, parks, bicycle lanes, walking paths and Highway 14.
“We could have a map on our website so that people can look at where they can ride and where they can’t ride,” Steinbronn suggested at a council workshop.
Bromley said that wheeled ATVs offer drivers a safe, enjoyable option to get around town or go off-roading.
“You’ve got a four-point (seat belt), a timing belt, and a roll cage,” he said. “It’s only got two cylinders, so it gets really good mileage, and it’s fun. Everybody loves them. … In fact, the mayor has asked me twice now if he can go for a ride.”
