House would ease limits for ATV riders on Washington roads

OLYMPIA – The House of Representative decided Tuesday that ATVs should be able to cross an intersection for the same reason the fabled chicken crosses the road.

To get to the other side.

On a unanimous vote, the House said counties should be able to allow riders on most all-terrain vehicles that are legally operating on a local road to drive across a state highway to get to the local road on the other side of the intersection.

Under current law, it is legal to operate many ATVs on local roads where the speed limit isn’t above 35 mph. That can create a problem, however, when a driver comes to an intersection with a state highway, where speed limits can be as high as 60 mph. That brief time on the highway can generate a traffic ticket.

Rep. Joe Schmick, R-Colfax, described it as “a pretty simple bill” but an important one to communities near off-road ATV areas that want visiting riders to be able to get into town to spend some tourist dollars.

The bill now goes to the Senate.