Brillion, WI ATV ordinance

[SomethingFishy*]

Brillion's ATV ordinance cruises smoothly; other areas may follow

What happened

The city of Brillion adopted an ordinance enabling city residents to register their stock all-terrain vehicles and golf carts to roll along city streets. The new rules link to recreational trails leading to and from town.

The local law, effective since May 1, was spearheaded by Capt. Daniel Alloy of the Brillion Police Department, who said it would spur local economic development and tourism opportunities.

Alloy, an ATV owner and enthusiast, had pushed the idea of establishing the city as an ATV-friendly environment for years. With the help of the state Department of Natural Resources and backing by local businesses, Alloy closed the deal.

The city spent about $1,000 on new signs and program registration materials. City residents who own golf carts, battery-powered vehicles and unmodified ATVs now can travel city streets when venturing to and from recreation trails outside the city limits. The annual registration fee is $25 a vehicle. Riders of registered ATVs have equal use of the city streets, but are to stay right of faster-moving vehicle traffic when possible.

What's new

The program already has the look of a well-oiled machine.

"I've not heard one complaint about this since we started," Alloy said.

The city has registered almost 40 ATVs so far, nearly covering the program's start-up costs. No ATV-related citations, crashes or injuries have been reported to date.

As Alloy predicted, an ATV club has emerged to seed development of a regional trail system linking Brillion to nearby communities. Members of the Farm Country ATV Club aim to establish a public-use ATV trail on private lands between Brillion and Reedsville before the cold weather hits, he said.

The Manitowoc County village of Reedsville, about seven miles west of Brillion, passed a similar ATV-friendly ordinance soon after Brillion did. A subsequent agreement allows each community's locally registered ATVs and golf carts to make use the other's local roads.

The village of Potter, five miles south of Brillion, is poised to pass its own next month, Alloy said.

Meanwhile, representatives of communities in northern Outagamie County, and as far away as Marinette County, are calling on Brillion as they prepare to follow its lead, Alloy said.

Finally, the area's recreation vehicle-related businesses are participating. One has proposed donating ATVs for police department use, Alloy said. Another may offer a trailer, he said.

www. postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070727/APC0101/707270680/1979

[Dave]

That's awesome!