By Mary Drier
Staff Writer
For several months the issue of riding recreational vehicles on or along roadways in Tuscola County has been discussed at Road Commission board meetings and also at county Board of Commissioners meetings.
Huron and Sanilac counties allow recreational vehicles to operate on roadways and have developed trails for that use. Some residents are pushing for Tuscola County to do the same.
Tuscola County Weighmaster Richard Letts recently explained the laws to county commissioners.
“There is a lot of misunderstanding about ORV Laws’ rules and regulations, and also snowmobiles. There are different rules for ORV and for snowmobiles,” said county Weighmaster Richard Letts. “The way the law reads, the county (commissioners) can allow the use of ORVs on highways. Yet, townships, villages and cities, if they want to, can opt out of allowing it by passing their own ordinance against it.”
County commissioners have the authority to pass an ordinance allowing ORVs to use roadways, but the Road Commission board makes the decision on snowmobile use on highways.
Letts also noted that if commissioners decided to allow ORVs on roadways they could do so on a trial basis.
Huron County Commissioners passed their resolution allowing ORVs’ highway use with a two-year “sunset” provision, which means they review it after two years and decide whether or not to continue it.
It is Letts’ opinion changing the laws would help with tourism, and businesses that sell recreational vehicles and do repairs.
“It wouldn’t be a gold mine, but it might help,” he noted. “If it doesn’t work out, it can be stopped.”
Commissioners asked county Controller Mike Hoagland to survey the townships.
Mary Drier is a staff writer for the Tuscola County Advertiser. She can be reached at drier@tcadvertiser.com.