ATV License...Is that an ATV? Is the Pope Cathlioc?

[Davemuzz]

I-Ke-Friggin-rum-ba. I just came here to vent a bit. I think the PA DCNR will do the right thing.....but then....one never knows about such things until they actually happen.

Let's see....I'll give you the short version. I have MS. As such, walking is difficult for me. Not impossible at this point....but difficult. Swinging my leg over an ATV is VERY difficult. Not impossible...but VERY difficult. I got permission from some local landowners to use my "Barry Bonds" Golf Cart (That would be my Golf Cart on Steroids...or my "Modified" cart) for hunting purposes. Now, I must also disclose that I have a lifetime Pa "shoot from a vehicle" disabled permit.

You see, I didn't want to own a gas powered ATV. The darn things are too noisy and too big and too awkward for me to use. But, I can handle and use a modified cart. Here are some pics of my "unit":





Now....Pa "defines" an "ATV" as follows:All-Terrain Vehicles are defined as follows:

1. Class 1 ATV – A motorized off-highway vehicle, which travels
on three or more inflatable tires and has a maximum width of 50
inches and a maximum dry weight of 800 pounds.

2. Class 2 ATV – A motorized off-highway vehicle, which travels
on three or more inflatable tires and has a width which exceeds
50 inches or a dry weight which exceeds 800 pounds.

The law also says:
All ATVs operating in Pennsylvania must be equipped with a brake
system capable of producing deceleration of 14 feet per second at a
speed of 20 miles per hour; and a muffler in good working order. The
sound intensity produced by an ATV may not exceed 99dbA, or
decibels, when measured at 20 inches from the tailpipe.

OK....so....the way I see it is my cart (AKA Barry Bonds Golf Cart) certainly meets the first test. After all, it is a vehicle.....and it does travel on three or more inflatable tires.  Also....my cart has a brake system capable of producing deceleration of 14 feet per second at a speed of 20 mph. How do I know this? Well.....I just go real fast and stomp on the brake and the cart stops really, really fast. And finally....the noise thing.....well heck.....it's electric......'nuff said.

I'm just wondering what they are gonna say....if they tell me I don't need a license.....then I'm gonna ask what document do I give the Game Officer when he says "where is your license plate at?"  I mean......the law says I need a license to drive it on State Game land approved ATV roads.....but then if the DCNR says I don't need a license.....seems like I'm in a catch 22...eh?

Kind of like my disease......Well Dave.....your left leg is weak because your muscles need to be excercised for at least an hour a day......but if you excercise you will wear yourself out in a matter of 15 minutes and have to take a 2 hour nap just to recover......kind of a catch 22 situation.....a dog chasing it's tail and never getting it.

But.....like I said. I'm just venting for now. I'm sure they will "do the right thing".

But///....I'll keep you posted.

Dave

[SLAVAGE]

i beleave it gos under the same as that ""Bad Boy Buggie"" has to be regestered in pa as a ATV but if they are given you that much hassel for it go see about geting a small plate on it and toss it on your inscurence that way if any thing happens to it your covered.. im looking to get an atric cat and the guy said its best to get a lic plate on it especialy here in pa cause a lot of guys are stealing them and going and selling them in WV cause they dont have to have atvs regestered so its better for my books and to get coverage on it
Dave

[Davemuzz]

Slavage,

I already have it insured as an ATV. In fact, I had to give my insurance company pics of it 'n stuff so they would insure it as an "ATV". Again....cause it didn't have a VIN # that would automatically go thru their system as a certian "kind" of ATV. But it was no big deal. A pic, a copy of the invoice, certificate of origin and they were more than happy to take my money. . Imagine that!

But.....you said "go see about getting a small plate on it.... ....what did you mean by a small plate? You mean like a motorcycle plate? I'm confused....but that's easy to do.

Thanks

Dave

[DCRthe3rd]

All I want to add is you may thank the atv clubs for some of this , it was they , not uncle sugar who pushed to have alot of these regs and plates for atv's , it seems they thought they would get something for it , so even if you are on private ground , too bad , but on a brighter note , thats a nice unit

[SLAVAGE]

yeah the artic cat guy said it would be a  motorcycle the new bad boy buggys and the prowlers and such all have vin numbers on them these days so you might want to contact the pendot or even AAA see if they can help you out on geting a  motorcycle  plate
Dave

[Davemuzz]

   Well, the PA DCNR has done the right thing. They have approved my cart as an ATV and will issue me an ATV license. It was interesting to note that the PA. ATV law definition is written "loosely" enough to allow PA to review applications for "events" such as mine. However, the PA ATV law clearly states that vehicles used for lawn care or maintenance, or construction, or "dune buggies", or Golf Carts, are NOT considered ATV's and will not be issued licenses.  I don't think they want any guy to come in with an old John Deer tractor....take off the mower blade, and call it an ATV. That probably makes sense as you could have a guy out there on a CAT D-9 rambling down an ATV road just to prove a point.

So....if you don't have a license, you cannot use the vehicle on PA game lands that allow the use of DCNR licensed vehicles, or any of the PA licensed ATV properties.

Just as a side note....when I was "Googleing" "What is an ATV" I came across North Carolinas' ATV law. It's much more defined than PA's and goes like this:

An all-terrain vehicle is any motorized off-highway
vehicle designed to travel on four low-pressure tires,
having a seat designed to be straddled by the operator
and handlebars for steering control. Single rider ATV’s
are intended for use by a single operator and no
passenger. Two-up ATV’s are designed for an operator
and one passenger.

So....I was thinking......if I ever move to N.C......I guess I'm going to have to bolt on some kind of horse saddle seat to straddle when I drive this cart......and yank off the steering wheel and replace it with some handlebars. Although.....I probably need to look up the definition of "handlebars"....but that will probably take me to some porn site....where a NC Politician will have his picture posted!!!   

Dave

[b44mag]

sweet cart dave i sent you a pm hope to here from you soon hunting is getting close good luck out there
                                              b44mag