Ca at it again!!! Bad NEWS for Rails and UTVs

[Guest Deven]

Bad News for UTVs and Rails...... Ca has done it again. It is my understanding of this that helmets are now required for all rails and UTVs in Ca. as well as 4 seat rhinos and converted UTVs are now illegal

 

New California UTV Legislation

 

AB 1595

 

(Sacramento CA. July 10, 2012) CORVA has learned in the past month or so of a new legislative proposal affecting UTV's like the Yamaha Rhino, Polaris Ranger, Arctic Cat Wildcat.

 

The proposed legislation, authored by Assembly Member Cook and sponsored/supported by Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association ("ROHVA") Kawasaki Motors Corporation.

 

The bill started out on February 06, 2012 as a proposal regarding sales taxes and related items.

 

The proposal was gutted and amended (very quietly)on March, 29th in an Assembly committee to much of what the bill now provides.

 

Since that time, the bill has had some minor amendments but has passed the Assembly 71 to 0 and the Senate 36 to 0. CORVA expects by the time you read this that the bill will be on the Governor's desk for his signature and then Chaptered into law. [update, the Gov signed the bill]

 

Of particular interest, the bill provides:

 

"This bill would define an off-highway motor vehicle to include a recreational off-highway vehicle, as defined. The bill would establish additional requirements governing the operation of a recreational off-highway vehicle."

 

In short, this bill will amend Section 500 of the Vehicle Code to define what a "Recreational off-highway vehicle" is. This section is more for a clear understanding especially for the Department of Motor Vehicles in the registration process.

 

More important for motorized recreationist, is the adding to the Chapter 8, commencing with Section 38600 to Division 16.5 of the Vehicle Code.

 

"38600. A person operating a recreational off-highway vehicle shall be at least 16 years of age, or be directly supervised in the vehicle by a parent or guardian or by an adult authorized by the parent or guardian.

 

38601. A person shall not operate, or allow a passenger in, a recreational off-highway vehicle unless the person and the passenger are wearing safety helmets meeting the requirements established for motorcycles and motorized bicycles pursuant to Section 27802.

 

38602. A person operating, and any passenger in, a recreational off-highway vehicle shall wear a seatbelt and shoulder belt or safety harness that is properly fastened when the vehicle is in motion.

 

38603. A person operating a recreational off-highway vehicle shall not allow a passenger to occupy a separate seat location not designed and provided by the manufacturer for a passenger.

 

38604. A person operating a recreational off-highway vehicle shall not ride with a passenger, unless the passenger, while seated upright with his or her back against the seatback with both feet flat on the floorboard, can grasp the occupant handhold with the seatbelt and shoulder belt or safety harness properly fastened."

 

CORVA is providing this information as a service to the motorized recreation community. CORVA has not taken a position on this legislative proposal.

[DPCones]

Those fucking hippies,,,,,unbelievable!

[alanbmx]

More will be coming in this fucked up state with Moonbeam at the helm for the next 5 1/2 years. I love California except for the politics and 60% of the libtards that infest the cities

[Dr. Beardface]

I don't necessarily disagree with that stuff, but I don't think the state needs to be mandating these things. If you're dumb enough to not wear a helmet or a seatbelt or hang off the side then that's your problem. Let Darwin do his job!

[450Riot]

Yeah I get it too. But I also believe in natural selection. If you're dumb enough to get killed then you're probably not needed here anyway. Lil' harsh yes, but if you make the decision to wear a helmet and you get in a freak accident and that helmet saved your life then there ya go. If you get in that same freak accident without your helmet and you die.. guess you shoulda wore a helmet then huh?

 

I say we tell China NOT to wear helmets so we get a lil' more natural selection action goin on there! Hahaha

[Guest Deven]

Here is my biggest problem with it.

 

You can no longer take an infant for a ride in a UTV in Ca as it cannot wear a helmet. They make full on racing seats with car seats that your baby will be just fine in. your no hauling as but tooling around going for a family ride. They just made it where you cannot take the family out in a UTV or rail.