I got pulled over down the street from my house(Cypress Tx) and got three tickets. I would like to know if there are any loop holes to the off road use Claus that the DOT has in place. I was wondering if any of you had heard of anybody getting away with the slow moving vehicle (red triangle) plate? I am thinking that may work even though It requires that the vehicle has a max speed of 25 miles per hour. I can adjust the throttle Governor to get around that. I only need to make it about a 1/2 mile from the house to get to the creek.

Bokonon

There is no way to do it. I tried real hard. I did have a street legal Rhino. You can register a Rhino as a slow moving passenger vehicle. Good luck

We discussed this topic before on this forum (and others too)...as I recall, the slow moving vehicle has to be DESIGNED to go 25mph or less.  For example, you can't take a formula 1 racing car and put a 25mph governor on it to make it street legal b/c it has to be designed to be max speed of 25mph from the factory.  I'm told that golf carts usually fit this description (as slow moving vehicle) and they can be licensed for street legal use (not highway use of course).

I'm surprised to hear that a Rhino qualified as a slow moving vehicle, but I can see how a Kaw. Mule should qualify (I think its pretty slow from the factory).

Happy trails...:)

I titled mine in Fannin,County

Dont spare me the details brother. I dont care if I have to get a PO box and register it in Fannin co.

Bok

You can tag and register offroad bikes for street use. There's a Suzuki 400cc race atv in Denton Tx running around with tags, lights, blinkers. Not sure how you would do it but I know I've seen it done. Might have to call the dmv and see what they require.

I'm told that dirtbikes are easy to license for street use...you just have to add the lights, blinkers and such and then get it titled as a street bike.  Folks do this frequently as I understand it.  ATVs are a different matter b/c they don't qualify as a motorcycle in Texas (they must be 2 or 3 wheels to be licensed as a MC in TX).

Happy trails...:)

hate to ruin anyones day, but i looked this up a while ago and thought id share something from the texas driving code.

 § 502.001.  DEFINITIONS.  In this chapter:                                 
(1)  "All-terrain[0] vehicle[0]" means a motor vehicle[0] that
is:                  
(A)  equipped with a saddle, bench, or bucket
seats for the use of:       
(i)  the rider; and                                                        
(ii)  a passenger, if the motor vehicle[0] is
designed by the manufacturer to transport a passenger;
(B)  designed to propel itself with three or more
tires in contact with the ground;
(C)  designed by the manufacturer for off-highway
use; and                
(D)  not designed by the manufacturer primarily
for farming or lawn care. 

§ 502.006.  ALL-TERRAIN VEHICLES.  (a)  Except as
provided by Subsection (b), a person may not register an
all-terrain vehicle, with or without design alterations, for
operation on a public highway.
(b)  The state, a county, or a municipality may register an
all-terrain vehicle for operation on a public beach or highway to
maintain public safety and welfare.
(c)  Repealed by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1280, §
6, eff. June 15, 2007.
(d)  Repealed by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1280, §
6, eff. June 15, 2007.
(e)  Section 502.172 does not apply to an all-terrain
vehicle.              

Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.  Amended
by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 311, § 1, eff. May 29, 1999.

Amended by:                                                                  
Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1280, § 6, eff. June 15,
2007.

Source document link:

http://tlo2.tlc.state.tx.us/statutes/tn.toc.htm

one the bright side though, i was considering a rhino or RZR and after looking through the code, and conversing with my local DMV officers, that is legal with a light modification

Well, there are 10s of thousands of atv owners in Texas.  Lets start contacting our politicians and get something done about it.  My Grizzly has hi and lo headlights, brakelights and now only needs a horn and turn indicators.  Thats about an hour of work.  They could limit them so that you cannot drive them on limited access highways (freeways).  Police officers can ride them on the street as they are,s provided they have an orange flag and are within 25 miles of their office.  Austin police dept. has atvs they use to patrol the 6th street area, tourist areas and parks.  Somehow they have EXEMPT vehicle license plates on them.  They have no blinker and no orange flag.  They are equipped with red lights and sirens.

The squeaky wheel gets the oil and the politicians dont want to loose their fantastic pensions.

Well, its not that no one is interested in furthering the cause (I sure am!).  However, I found that when I got involved in a grass-roots effort to organize the ATV masses and show our support for the repeal of SB 155 and the creation of more ATV riding trails in TX (this was a few years ago or so) that it was very similar to herding cats! lol  For whatever reason, I found that the ATV community as a whole tends to be fairly inactive in politics (at least to the extent that the politics effect ATV usage).  The one exception I can think of is Carol Smith.  She was extremely helpful in the SB155 repeal efforts (she even flew to Houston to speak at the public meeting that I helped organize), and she is well known with various politicians and governmental offices such as the State Parks Dept.  If you want to speak to Carol about your proposal, I'll be happy to give you her phone number.  She's a very nice lady and has already committed tons of time and effort to advance the interests of the ATV community in Texas.

Happy trails...:)

You are right about the cat herding.  I don't know why but it seems the 2 wheelers can usually get the stuff together for a common cause but the atvs just don't get involved.  Its a shame as there are a hello of a lot af atvs in Texas.  I would like to talk to Carol Smith just to do a little mind picking.

Keith,

Send me a PM and I'll reply with Carol's phone number.

Getting back on topic, I found an Ebay ad today that claims to have a TX street legal Artic Cat Prowler...check it out here.  http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Powersports_ATVs__2006-Arctic-Cat-Prowler-UTV-Used-Street-Legal-in-TX_W0QQitemZ280241520887QQddnZPowersportsQQadnZATVsQQddiZ2816QQadiZ2753QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item280241520887&_trksid=p3756.m14.l1308

Despite the TX license plate and tags on the windshield, I have to call BS on this one being street legal as there are NO turn signals or rear view mirrors!

Happy trails...:)

What were the 3 tickets. I have to cross several streets to go ride. And when I am hunting. My lease is divided by a county road. I have a Rhino. I did see a few on Ebay that said they are street legal. Would like to know if it can be done. I certainly dont want any tickets.