PORT ANGELES — Off-road and all-terrain vehicles may be allowed on some Clallam County roads beginning in 2015.
Clallam County commissioners are still examining which roads.
At Monday’s work session, County Engineer Ross Tyler recommended that the commissioners consider approval of all-terrain vehicles, also known as ATVs, on all county roads with speed limits of 35 mph or less but said there needs to be more study on those roads, and some roads may be added or removed.
“There are some roads at 40 mph that we may want to consider modifying,” Tyler said.
A final proposal, including a map of all roads that would be included, will be presented at a public hearing before a final plan is recommended for a commission vote.
The public hearing has not yet been scheduled.
State law ESHB 1632, approved in 2013, will allow some models of off-road vehicles or ATVs to be legally operated on local agency roads that are marked for 35 mph or lower speed limits beginning in 2015.
Special licensing
The law will require special licensing for off-road vehicles, which is not yet ready at the state level, Tyler said.
Licensing fees are expected to be sent to agencies for road signs to indicate which roads are approved for off-road vehicles, he said.
The law does not apply to private roads, such as logging roads, or roads on land controlled by the U.S. Forest Service or the state Department of Natural Resources.
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5070, or at arwyn.rice@peninsuladailynews.com.
