An OHV, or off-highway vehicle, is any motorized land vehicle predominantly used for recreational purposes on unimproved roads, trails, and other approved use areas not suitable for conventional two-wheel-drive vehicular travel. OHVs are generally not designed to operate on publicly maintained roads and highways as they are difficult to maneuver and increase the danger of an accident. They are designed specifically to be operated on unpaved surfaces, and their ability to navigate and traverse difficult and rough terrain makes OHVs a tremendously popular form of public recreation and an invaluable transportation tool for law enforcement and land management agencies across the United States.
OHVs include all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), off-highway motorcycles or dirt bikes, Utility Terrain Vehicles (UTVs or side-by-side vehicles), snowmobiles, and four-wheel-drive vehicles (such as jeeps and trucks) . An ATV is a four-wheeled motorized vehicle with an overall weight of less than 1,000 pounds and a width of less than 50 inches. Other types of OHVs can be enclosed or open air, and are often characterized by having large tires with deep treads, flexible suspension, and, at times, caterpillar tracks.
Federal and state regulations require OHV operators to follow specific rules when on public lands, such as operating only on areas, roads, and trails designated as open to OHVs, meeting all applicable state vehicle/operator requirements when on roads open to large vehicles, and equipping the vehicle with a state-approved muffler and/or spark arrester. Operating an OHV in a manner that damages the land, wildlife, or vegetation is prohibited, and recreational riding within developed campgrounds is also prohibited.
