Requiring persons twelve years of age or older to pass a written test and obtain an education certificate prior to operating an all-terrain vehicle or off-road utility vehicle on streets, highways, certain land, ice, and trails, providing fees, and making penalties applicable

Persons operating an off-road motorcycle or off-road utility vehicle (UTV) are excepted from the education instruction, certificate, and associated fee requirements. This bill strikes such exceptions for UTVs and adds streets and highways to the locations where a person operating an ATV or UTV must possess an education certificate. As a result, the bill requires every person years of age or older to obtain a valid education certificate approved by DNR prior to, and have the certificate in the person’s possession while, operating an ATV or UTV on a street or highway, public land, public ice, a designated riding trail, or land purchased with ATV registration funds in Iowa. A person is not required to possess an education certificate if the operation is part of a prescribed education training course and the operation is under the direct supervision of a certified ATV education instructor. Under current law, the fee for an education certificate is $5 and an education certificate must be issued to a qualified applicant who successfully completes an education course and pays the fee. The fees are credited to the special ATV fund and must be used for educational programs. Any person who has completed a course of instruction established under DNR rules, including the successful passage of an examination which includes either a written test relating to such course of instruction or the demonstration of adequate riding skills, is considered qualified to receive an education certificate. An education certificate does not expire and remains valid until the certificate is suspended or revoked by the DNR director as a result of a Code chapter 321I (ATVs) law or rule violation. The bill strikes the ability of a person who wishes to obtain an education certificate to do so by demonstrating adequate riding skills, thus requiring all such persons to successfully complete a written test. This aligns these provisions with the written test requirements for students qualifying for a snowmobile education certificate under current law. A person who is required to have a valid education certificate and who operates an ATV or UTV without a valid education certificate commits a simple misdemeanor punishable by a $70 scheduled fine.