Government
Lawmakers want more local authority over ORVs
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By ANJANA SCHROEDER
Capital News Service
LANSING – Northern Michigan local governments may soon be able to authorize off-road vehicle (ORV) regulations and ordinances. Rep. Joel Johnson, R-Clare, said he is trying to make it easier for ORV riders to use the designated trail systems within the counties in northern Michigan. The proposal would allow local governments to adopt ordinances to permit ORV riders to avoid the long detours between designated ORV routes. Riders could either drive on shoulders of state trunk line highways or local governments could authorize connections on dislocated segments of ORV trails in certain northern roadways, including ones in Mason, Gladwin, Wexford and Crawford counties. Johnson’s bill would give the state Transportation Department 60 days to decide if local governments could authorize such ordinances.