If you`re traveling from Anchorage to the Kenai Peninsula Borough, using four-wheeled vehicles on the roads is legal. District Mayor Charlie Pierce said: “ATVs will be allowed on all roads in the county and have always been allowed. As a second-tier county, we have no police power, and as such, the Alaska State Troopers handle all violations. Proponents say expanding the legal use of ATVs helps adapt regulations to the realities of everyday life in Alaska. The northernmost state in the United States has one of the highest rates of off-road vehicle ownership in the country. Residents have long used ATVs in villages and other less frequented areas, regardless of local or state laws. Many rural areas are not connected by national roads. Alaska has only 12 numbered highways and half of the public roads are unpaved. As more and more of these small motorized vehicles are legalized on the road, the impact on the safety of motorists could become a concern because regulations are not uniform from one place to another. At least six other states (AZ, MT, ND, SD, WA, WY) allow owners to use four-wheeled vehicles on public roads if they are registered, and drivers and passengers use safety equipment. A driver`s license or driver`s license is also required for legal use. Here`s a link to a state-by-state guide on ATVs.
There is only one place in Alaska where the government bans ATVs. Riding an ATV on public roads is highly illegal. You should never drive your ATV on the highway or road. The only reason an ATV is allowed on a public road is to cross those roads and not drive on them. Drive through the Kenai Peninsula borough from Anchorage, and it`s legal to use ATVs on the roads again. Although most ALASKAN ATV rental sites have their own policies, there are no legal requirements for renting an ATV in Alaska, except that the person driving the ATV is of the correct operating age (16 years old). Continuing our series of articles analyzing atV laws in each state that emerged from this article, this article looks at Alaskan ATV laws. Unfortunately, I had never driven in Alaska, let alone quads there. Due to my lack of knowledge, I turned to Logan Wicken of Outpost Alaska in Fairbanks, Alaska. He was kind enough to share his knowledge with us so that we could better understand the legal requirements for owning and operating an ATV in Alaska. State regulations currently limit the use of four-wheeled vehicles to cross national roads.
Proponents argue that expanding their legal use will align regulations with the realities of daily life in Alaskan villages, where residents have mounted them regardless of applicable state law. Some local governments, such as the city of Nome, have already established guidelines for the use of ATVs on city roads. The Knik Glacier Trail is 22 miles long and is the closest to Palmer. Parking an ATV in this area requires a $5 fee. This area is one of the most popular tourist attractions, and riding a mountain bike along the way will take you to the glacier, an incredible sight. The glacier of this trail makes it very popular as it changes texture and color. This elicited a mixed reaction, as Alaskans made dozens of comments for and against the proposal. Opponents have generally criticized the idea on security grounds.
But most county governments along Alaska`s highway system don`t follow this model. Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Kenai Peninsula Borough, Denali Borough and Fairbanks North Star Borough allow ATVs on the roads, although cities in these boroughs may not do so. “ATVs will be allowed on all roads in the borough and have always been allowed,” county Mayor Charlie Pierce said in an email. “As a second-rate county, we have no police power, and as such, the Alaska State Troopers handle all violations.” The State of Alaska does not require the mandatory wearing of helmets on ATVs or drivers of side-by-side vehicles. Not surprisingly, Outpost Alaska still recommends and encourages helmet use when driving an RV, as we do here at ATV Man. Logan shared his belief that quotes in Alaska for atV use are ultimately left to the discretion of the agent in contact with the driver of the vehicle. If a driver is driving erratically or recklessly, an officer will assess the level of risk and determine whether or not to intervene with the driver.