CALHOUN COUNTY ORV ORDINANCE

 Adopted by the Calhoun County Board of Commissioners on May 4, 2023.

AN ORDINANCE authorizing and regulating the operation of Off-Road Vehicles (ORVs) on roads in Calhoun County, providing penalties for the violation thereof, and for the distribution of public funds resulting from those penalties pursuant to 2008 PA 240, as amended, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.

THE PEOPLE OF THE COUNTY OF CALHOUN, MICHIGAN, DO ORDAIN:

SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS.

As used in this ordinance, the following definitions shall apply:

A. "County" means the County of
B. “Board of County Road Commissioners” means the Calhoun County Board of Commissioners, acting in the capacity of a County Road Commission, as provided by MCL 224.6
C. "Direct supervision" means the direct visual observation of the operator with the unaided or normally corrected eye, where the observer can come to the immediate aid of the
D. "Driver's license" means an operator's or chauffeur's license, or permit issued to an individual by the Secretary of State under Chapter III of the Michigan Vehicle Code, 1949 PA 300, as amended, MCL 257.301 to 257.329, for that individual to operate a vehicle, whether or not conditions are attached to the license or
E. "Maintained portion" means the roadway and any shoulder of a
F. "Operate" means to ride in or on, and be in actual physical control of, the operation of an ORV.
G. "Operator" means a person who operates or is in actual physical control of the operation of an ORV.
H. "ORV" means a motor-driven off-road recreation vehicle, including a golf cart, capable of cross-country travel without benefit of a road or trail, on or immediately over land, snow, ice, marsh, swampland, or other natural terrain. ORV includes, but is not limited to, a multitrack or multi-wheel drive vehicle, an ATV, a motorcycle or related 2-wheel vehicle, a vehicle with 3 or more wheels, an amphibious machine, a ground effect air cushion vehicle, or other means of transportation. ORV does not include, a snowmobile, a farm vehicle being used for farming, a vehicle used for military, fire, emergency, or law enforcement purposes, a vehicle owned by a utility company or an oil or gas company when performing maintenance on its facilities or on property over which it has an easement, a construction or logging vehicle used in the performance of its common function, or a registered
I. "Road" means a county primary road or county local road as described in Section 5 of 1951 PA 51, as amended, MCL 655.
J. "Safety Certificate" means a certificate issued pursuant to 1994 PA 451, as amended, MCL 324.81130, or a comparable ORV safety certificate issued under the authority of another state or a province of

SECTION 2. DESIGNATED ROADS.

A. An ORV may be operated only on the far right on the maintained portion of any County Primary or Local road, other than those roads listed in Appendix A, which shall be closed to ORV use as provided by MCL 324.81131. Appendix A may be amended, from time to time, by resolution of the Calhoun County Board of Commissioners, is incorporated here by reference
B. An ORV may not be operated on the road surface, roadway, shoulder, or right-of-way of any State or Federal highway in Calhoun County, including but not limited to I-94, I-69, I-194, Business Loop I-94, Dickman Road, Michigan Avenue (west of Partello Road and East of 25 ½ Mile Road), 25 ½ Mile Road (Between I-94 and Michigan Avenue), Old US 27, M-37, M-60, M- 66, M-78, M-89, M-99, M227 and M-311, except as indicated in paragraph (C) of this section.
C. A person operating an ORV on a designated County Road may cross an excluded road as indicated in paragraph (B) of this section for the sole purpose of continuing travel on the designated County Road. The crossing of the excluded road shall only be performed if the operation can be done safely and only at a right angle. The operator shall bring the vehicle to a complete stop before proceeding across the excluded road and shall yield the right-of-way to oncoming traffic.
D. A township board of a township in the County may adopt an ordinance authorizing the operation of ORV's on the maintained portion of 1 or more roads located within the township, pursuant to MCL 324.81131(3), or to close any roads within the boundaries of the township to the operation of ORVs permitted by the County, pursuant to MCL 81131(4).
E. An ORV may not be operated on any City or Village road surface, roadway, shoulder, or right-of- way in Calhoun County, unless allowed by City or Village ordinance.
F. An ORV may not be operated within any State Game Area or State Park and Recreation Area located in Calhoun County, except for those roads listed herein or unless allowed by the State Game Area or State Park and Recreation Area.
G. An ORV may not be operated on any linear trail park, such as the Ott Preserve, or Iron Belle Trail, in Calhoun County.
H. The Board of County Road Commissioners may close up to 30% of the linear miles of county roads located within the county to the operation of ORV's that would otherwise be authorized for ORV operation pursuant to this ordinance, or a township Ordinance under MCL 324.81131(3), but only when the Road Commission determines closing is necessary to protect the environment or if the operation of ORV's poses a particular and demonstrable threat to public safety.

SECTION 3. OPERATING CONDITIONS.

Except as set forth herein or otherwise provided by law, an ORV meeting all of the following conditions may be operated on a designated road in the County:

A. At a speed of no more than 25 miles per hour, or a lower posted ORV speed limit
B. With the flow of traffic. 
C. In a manner which does not interfere with traffic on the road.
D. Traveling single file, except when overtaking and passing another ORV.
E. While displaying a securely attached white-lighted headlight and red-lighted taillight with brake light at all times. 
F. By a person not less than 16 years of age, while operated on a County Road under the authority of this Ordinance.
G. An ORV shall not be operated pursuant to this ordinance during the period of 30 minutes before sunset to 30 minutes after sunrise or when visibility is substantially reduced due to weather conditions unless displaying a lighted headlight and lighted taillight.
H. A child who is less than 16 years of age shall not operate a 3-wheeled ORV. 
I. The ORV shall be equipped with a braking system that may be operated by hand or foot, capable of producing deceleration at 14 feet per second on level ground at a speed of 20 miles per hour; a red brake light, brighter than the taillight, visible from behind the vehicle when the brake is activated, and a throttle so designed that when the pressure used to advance the throttle is removed, the engine speed will immediately and automatically return to idle. 
J. The ORV shall be equipped with at least one mirror securely mounted and positioned on the ORV in such a manner to be able to clearly view traffic approaching from behind.
K. Each operator and passenger must wear a crash helmet and protective eyewear approved by the United States Department of Transportation unless the vehicle is equipped with a roof that meets or exceeds standards for a crash helmet and the operator and each passenger is wearing a properly adjusted and fastened seat belt.
L. While the ORV is equipped with a spark arrester type United States Forest Service approved muffler in good working order and in constant operation.
M. Pursuant to noise emission standards defined by law.
N. ORVs must not be operated in a manner that will cause damage to the road surface or shoulder. In this regard, prohibited activity includes but is not limited to actions such as "fishtailing" and spinning of tires that disperses gravel and creates ruts and other damage.

SECTION 4. LICENSE; SAFETY CERTIFICATE.

A person less than 18 years of age shall not operate an ORV on a road in the County unless the person is in possession of a valid driver's license or unless the person is under the direct supervision of a parent or guardian and has in his or her possession an ORV Safety Certificate.

SECTION 5. REGISTERED MOTOR VEHICLE.

Unless a person possesses a valid driver's license, a person shall not operate an ORV on a road in the County if the ORV is registered as a motor vehicle, and either is more than 65 inches wide or has three wheels.

SECTION 6. EVIDENCE.

In a court action in this state, if competent evidence demonstrates that a vehicle that is permitted to operate on a road, street, or highway pursuant to the Michigan Vehicle Code was in a collision on a roadway with an ORV that is not registered under the Code, the operator of the ORV shall be considered prima facie negligent.

SECTION 7. PENALTIES.

Any person who violates this ordinance is guilty of a municipal civil infraction and shall pay a civil fine of not less than $250.00 and not more than $500.00. In addition, a court may order the person to pay full restitution for any damage to the environment, a road, or public or private property damaged as a result of the violation.

SECTION 8. ORV FUND.

The County Treasurer shall deposit all fines and damages collected under this ordinance into a fund to be designated as the ORV Fund. The Calhoun County Board of Commissioners shall appropriate revenue in the ORV Fund as follows:

A. Fifty percent to the Calhoun County Road Commission for repairing damage to roads and the environment that may have been caused by ORVs, and for posting signs indicating ORV speed limits, or indicating whether roads are open or closed to the operation of ORVs.
B. Fifty percent to the Calhoun County Sheriff for ORV enforcement and training.

SECTION 9. MASTER MAP.

The County shall maintain a master map of all roads under the jurisdiction of the Calhoun County Road Commission upon which shall be indicated those roads and parts or sections thereof upon which the operation of ORV's is permitted and prohibited pursuant to this Ordinance. The County shall make such master map available for interested groups or organizations to make copies for distribution to the general public but shall have no obligation to incur any expense associated with the making of such copies.

Click here for a PDF of the map

The Calhoun County Interactive Road Map offers a layer that shows which roads can be rode on with ORVs. Visit the map, under layers select the “ORV Authorized Roads” option, and all eligible roads for using ORVs turn green.

SECTION 10. REPEALER CLAUSE.

All Ordinances or parts of Ordinances in conflict herewith are hereby repealed only to the extent necessary to give this Ordinance full force and effect.

SECTION 11. SAVINGS CLAUSE.

This Ordinance shall in no manner affect pending litigation, either civil or criminal, founded or growing out of any Ordinance, Resolution, Order or parts thereof, hereby repealed, and this Ordinance shall in no manner affect any rights, claims, privileges, immunities or causes of action of the County, or other person, either criminal or civil, that may have already occurred, accrued or grown out of any Ordinance, Resolution, Order or policy, or any part thereof, hereby repealed.

SECTION 12. VALIDITY AND SEVERABILITY.

Should any portion of this Ordinance be found invalid for any reason, such a holding shall not be construed as affecting the validity of the remaining portions of this Ordinance.

SECTION 13. EFFECTIVE DATE.

 This Ordinance shall be effective on the date of publication or on Monday, May 15, 2023, whichever may be later.

SECTION 14. IMMUNITY CLAUSE.

Subject to section 5 of 1964 PA 170, MCL 691.1405, this state, a board of county road commissioners, a county board of commissioners, and a local unit of government are immune from tort liability for injuries or damages sustained by any person arising in any way out of the operation or use, on the maintained portion or unmaintained portion of a highway, road, or street, of an ORV. The immunity provided by this subsection does not apply to actions of an employee of this state, an employee of a board of county road commissioners, an employee of a county board of commissioners, or an employee of a local unit of government that constitute gross negligence. As used in this subsection, "gross negligence" means conduct so reckless as to demonstrate a substantial lack of concern for whether an injury results.