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October 21, 2014
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October 21, 2014Off-road vehicles are wildly popular in the Lafourche and Terrebonne area, but misconceptions about where vehicles can be used could have costly repercussions.
The law states that no one can drive along state highways or public roadways to any degree, unless that person has been issued the required licensing, which then permits driving on the shoulder only.
“If you operate on the shoulder of a highway, you must have proper registration and a driver’s license. On top of that, we encourage citizens to use common sense,” Lafourche sheriff’s spokesman Brennan Matherne said. “When you are riding on a shoulder of a highway where vehicles go over 50 mph, use common sense. Make sure you are being very cautious.”
Driving off-road vehicles along the shoulder of the road is generally accepted locally, but Matherne suggested it should not be.
“The truth is that it is very dangerous to be operating on public streets or highways,” Matherne said. “There is a reason they are called ‘off-road’ vehicles. They are not meant to be on the road.”
Not only have law enforcement officers seen a plethora of ATVs on public roads, but also there has been a recent increase in golf carts being driven on streets.
“Some of these golf carts are the size of smart cars, but size is not the issue. Safety is the issue,” Matherne said. “If you are looking for something small to ride in your neighborhood, a smart car is your only option.”
Underage motorists driving the off-road vehicles is a constant concern, the spokesman said. Unlike adults who may have the proper licensing, children are not allowed to operate ATVs, golf carts or any other off-road vehicle because it is illegal.
“Even when you are operating on the shoulder of a highway, a license is still required,” Matherne said. “People are quick to report to us when juveniles are involved.”
Houma Police Chief Todd Duplantis has adopted a zero-tolerance policy for off-road vehicles on public roadways and has even gone as far to send out extra patrols to neighborhoods to watch for violators.
“We have extra patrols sometimes, especially in the summer,” Duplantis said. “These laws are in place to save lives. If you do not have proper equipment suited for roadways, you should not be out there.”
Private property is the best place to ride off-road vehicles because the driver does not have to worry about the risk of oncoming traffic.
“You have people drinking and driving or texting and driving and if they hit you in a golf cart or ATV, the chance of survival is probably pretty low,” Matherne said. “Just because something is legal, doesn’t mean it is the smartest thing to do.”
