The City of Bethel Police Department will be hosting a free ATV/side by side safety inspection/information gathering on August 6th, 2022 outside of the Cultural Center. Please come and join Lt. Poole from 10A.M to 2P.M.
The Bethel City Council unanimously passed Ordinance 22-02 on May 24, 2022 that amends the Bethel Municipal code governing the operation of all terrain vehicle (ATVs) on public roadways within the City of Bethel.
According to the ordinance, ATVs are permitted to operate on public roadways within city limits, under the following conditions:
Except as otherwise provided in section, ATVs must comply within City of Bethel and the State of Alaska traffic laws and ordinances.
•ATVs must be registered through the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV)
•Must have proof of registration, and registration must be displayed in the designated location on the vehicle.
•Vehicles must have liability insurance, and proof of the insurance must be presented upon demand.
While driving on a public roadway within city limits, ATVs:
•Must stay on the correct side of the lane and traffic except when crossing the road;
•May not pass other moving vehicles;
•May not operate in any other manner that may be considered carless, reckless, or negligent;
•Must be under one thousand five hundred (1,500) pounds (including cargo).
•Obey posted speed limit.
•The speed limit is a parking lot or an area congested with pedestrians is five (5) miles per hour.
•The operator must have a valid driver’s license.
Per BMC 10.03.040 – Operation of all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) – Section 4(f) Must wear a helmet when operating an ATV.
Per BMC 10.03.06o Penalties-
•A fine of twenty-five ($25) for the first (1st) vi-olation;
•A fine of fifty dollars ($50) for the second (2nd) violation; or
•A fine of one hundred dollars ($100) for a third (3rd) or subsequent violation.
Visit https://doa.alaska.gov/dmv/reg/snow.htm for information on how to register new/used vehicles, the registration requirements, registration fees, decals, etc.
