Eleven newly enacted laws designed to enhance safety on New Hampshire’s Off Highway Recreational Vehicle (OHRV) and snowmobile trails take effect on September 10, 2019, and enthusiasts should become familiar with these changes before the popular fall and winter riding seasons begin.
House Bills 2019-591 and 592 focused on providing a more comprehensive approach to safety requirements for all operators, and subsequently change certain safety-related provisions in current OHRV and snowmobile statutes providing added clarity for riders and law enforcement officials alike.
“House Bills 591 and 592 addressed some significant shortfalls in current legislation, and are very important as the popularity of OHRV and snowmobile riding continues to explode in the state,” said New Hampshire Fish and Game Department Captain Michael Eastman, who coordinates snowmobile and OHRV enforcement, registration and safety education for the Department. “From prohibiting open containers of alcohol in OHRV passenger areas to mandating eye protection be worn by all operators traveling on vehicles without windshields, these legislative changes make Granite State trails safer for everyone. It’s common sense that children under the age of 7 should be secured by a child restraint system and protected by a helmet while riding with an adult, and just as logical that operators should extinguish aftermarket lights when approaching oncoming vehicles while riding at night,” concluded Eastman.
For a complete listing of all the changes to OHRV and snowmobile laws visit https://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/ohrv/documents/ohrv-law-changes.pdf.
Operators should note that the following changes are already in effect and now carry a fine of $248:
- Operating an unregistered OHRV or snowmobile
- Operating with a modified or loud exhaust
- Operating on private land without landowner permission
- Operating at speeds 25 mph over the limit
