By Judy Seifert (Contact / Staff Bio)
April 19, 2009 - 04:29 p.m. EST

TUSCOLA COUNTY — A bill that would allow riders of off-road vehicles to use the shoulders of rural roads seems to be gaining popularity as word of it spreads through the county.

Introduced by State Rep. John Espinoza (D-Croswell), the revised bill adds not just Tuscola County, but Sanilac, Huron and St. Clair counties to a list that already allows that use.

“It doesn’t mean that riders can just do as they please,” said a spokesperson for State Rep. Joel Sheltrown (D-West Branch). “In the northern counties of the state people have been driving their ATVs along county roads for some time. The original bill put limits and restrictions on that kind of activity and for good reason. The same now holds true for the lower counties that are considering this change.”

Eugene Kady, general manager of JD Motorsports in Caro, said he thinks the bill is a step in the right direction. “As long as people don’t abuse the privilege, obey the laws, it will be okay. As far as impacting our business, well, it will certainly help.”

That same feeling was expressed by the owners of motor sport stores in Cass City and Pinconning.

“It will mean increased sales, not just of equipment but in parts, clothing, accessories - just about everything associated with the sport,” Kady went on to say. “It will probably help the Thumb area as far as tourism goes, too.”

In 2008, Gov. Jennifer Granholm signed a law permitting 43 northern counties to open their roads to off-road vehicles.

According to Espinoza, at that time an imaginary line was drawn across the state, but it was well north of Tuscola, Sanilac, Huron and St. Clair counties. State representatives for those counties decided then not to act.

Now, they’re reconsidering it.

“It was just recently that my office was contacted by officials who were interested in joining in,” he said in a statement. “That’s why the bill was revised and overwhelmingly approved.”

Espinoza stated he expects the bill to pass through the Senate and be implemented before summer.

Control over the law is being passed onto townships and municipalities who can opt out of their county’s ordinance.

Shoulder use would be limited to rural roads. The bill does not cover snowmobiles or golf carts, which are already addressed by state law.

“I think it’s good for the community, good for sales, good for people and good for our economy, especially right now,” Kady added.