Wisconsin Seeing an Increase in ATVs and UTVs

Wednesday, September 28th, 2022 -- 10:00 AM

(Courtney Everett, Wisconsin Public Radio) Continuing a recent climb in registrations, Wisconsin is now home to more than 472,000 all-terrain and utility vehicles, according to state authorities.

According to Courtney Everett of Wisconsin Public Radio, that’s about 5,000 more than last year when about 332,000 ATVs and 135,000 UTVs were registered in the state.

"All throughout the state, this ATV and UTV growth has exploded," said Jacob Holsclaw, recreation warden for the state Department of Natural Resources. The growth in registrations comes amid communities weighing expanded rights of all-terrain and utility vehicles on public roadways.

In April, the towns of Porter and Palmyra were the latest to hold referendums asking voters if the vehicles should be allowed on local roads. More than 60 percent of voters in each community supported the move.

Last year, voters in communities including Avon, Center, Orfordville, Plymouth and Union approved similar referendums. Holsclaw told Wisconsin Public Radio's "The Morning Show," the vehicles are becoming so popular that enforcement is having trouble keeping up.

The DNR has nine recreation wardens who oversee state trails and laws regulating ATV and UTV use. "A lot of people are frustrated, because there are just simply not enough of us sometimes to enforce the existing rules," he said.

Holsclaw serves nine counties near Eau Claire. He said several of those counties now allow all-terrain and utility vehicles to use county and town roads, in addition to off-road trails. But compliance with local and state laws can be a problem.

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