MARK WAITE / PVT Off-road enthusiasts drive up the Wheeler Pass Road on a Sunday outing. MARK WAITE / PVT Later on, a group of the off-road enthusiasts park at a level area on the Wheeler Pass Road just before the turnoff to Wallace Canyon. Advertisement

By Mark Waite

Special to the Times-Bonanza & Goldfield News

A group of off-road enthusiasts from Las Vegas with an assortment of quads and off-road motorbikes, who were parked halfway up the Wheeler Pass Road last Sunday, seemed unaware of a new bill that will require them to license their vehicles.

A member of the group identified only as Tony, said right away what many suspected: It's just a way for the state to get more money, nothing else.

But his friend, Terry Killian, said, "The way the state's hurting, why not? There's a lot of people with toys. The registration for my trailer is only $35, my ATV should be cheaper."

Another rider who didn't want to be identified said, "I'd be curious to know where's the money going and why they need it."

'If they're going to start registering and taking fees they should start maintaining the roads," Killian added.

Senate Bill 394 requires anyone who owns an off-highway vehicle on or after July 1, 2010, to apply to the Department of Motor Vehicles for a title and registration within 30 days. People who own OHV's before that date aren't required to register the vehicle until June 30, 2011.

Each vehicle must display a sticker or decal prescribed by the DMV, about the size of a motorcycle license plate. Annual registration fees will be between $20 and $30.

The law states 60 percent of the money may be used for projects relating to trails and facilities for use by owners and operators of off-highway vehicles. That may include studies and planning, acquiring land, maps and signage, maintaining trails, actual construction and restoring damage caused by OHV's.

Another 25 percent will be used for law enforcement as recommended by the Office of Criminal Justice Assistance of the Department of Public Safety. Another 15 percent may be used for safety training and education on OHV's.

An 11-member commission on OHV's will be formed, which will include an authorized dealer, a member of an off-road organization, a sportsman, a rancher, a member of the Nevada Association of Counties, a representative of law enforcement, a member recommended by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources as well as four members who participate in off-highway vehicle recreation.

The Nevada Senate voted unanimously to override Gov. Jim Gibbons' veto of SB 394. Assemblyman Ed Goedhart, R-Amargosa Valley, said he initially supported the bill but was one of six assemblymen who voted not to override the governor's veto. The override passed the assembly 36-6.

Goedhart said he was initially for the bill, since it was supported by off-road associations, the Nevada Association of Counties, the Nevada Farm Bureau and ranchers.

"If you had a renegade scofflaw going into areas off registered trails, it would allow someone to write down the registration number," Goedhart said. He added, "It would allow us extra money to fund an off-road trails network."

But when it came to the override vote, Goedhart said he sided with the governor's belief it was a new fee, a new tax.

Tom Jacobs, public information officer for the Nevada Division of Motor Vehicles, said the registration will be done at the dealership.

"By registering the vehicle, it allows someone who has that vehicle to operate it a little easier in other states that register ATV's," Jacobs said.

"Then there's just simply the problem of people who misuse off-road vehicles. By being able to register them and identify them, it gives law enforcement an opportunity to identify and sanction those individuals who have been abusive," he said.

Nye County Sheriff Tony DeMeo was glad the bill will give law enforcement and off-road users a year to become familiar with the law.

"We've been having that issue for a while with the off-road vehicles, ATV's and such. We were giving citations up in Tonopah and the court threw them out," DeMeo said. "Now it's a requirement, the DMV is going to have to do it."

Al Bass, president of Pahrump Valley Four-Wheelers, said the bill won't be popular with off-road drivers.

"Now you buy them and you're done. Now you have to pay an annual fee and have them registered," Bass said. "It's understandable, every state will be getting that way. They're trying to get money. We have a quite a few off-roaders out here, let alone all of Las Vegas. It's a big change. Now they're going to want to regulate everything."

Bass, a former California resident, was skeptical the state would use the funds to improve off-road trails based on his experience in the Golden State.

"If you turn anywhere off a road in California that's a dirt road or a trail you have to get an off-highway pass ahead of time. We fought for many years because the funds were not being directed towards the roads and forest programs. They were being used for everything under the sun," he said.

While the east side of the Spring Mountains facing Las Vegas has hiking trails, campgrounds, picnic areas, even a ski lift, the west side is the domain of off-road users. Areas like Wheeler Pass, Wallace Canyon, Carpenter Canyon and Trout Canyon are popular for drivers of off-road vehicles.

Killian, one of the drivers in the mountains last weekend, pointed toward Wallace Canyon and said his group drove up to some waterfalls where there was still a lot of standing snow pack.

Other drivers complained about areas like the dry lake bed being closed off to off-road vehicles.

Killian said some of the vehicles whizzing by in the mountains cost up to $15,000.