{"data":{"id":"us-ky/krs-189.515","jurisdiction":"us-ky","citation":"KRS 189.515","heading":"Restrictions on operation of all-terrain vehicles.","body":"(1) As used in this section, \"federal all -terrain vehicle standards\" means the all -terrain\nvehicle standards set forth by the American National Standards Institute/Specialty\nVehicle Institute of America and incorporated by reference in 16 C.F.R. sec. 1420.3,\nto the extent those standards are applicable.\n(2) Except for vehicles authorized to operate on a public highway as of July 15, 1998,\nand except as provided in subsection (7) of this section, a person shall not operate\nan all-terrain vehicle upon any public highway or roadway or upon the right-of-way\nof any public highway or roadway.\n(3) A person shall not operate an all -terrain vehicle on private property without the\nconsent of the landowner, tenant, or individual responsible for the property.\n(4) A person s hall not operate an all -terrain vehicle on public property unless the\ngovernmental agency responsible for the property has approved the use of all-terrain\nvehicles.\n(5) Except for vehicles authorized to operate on a public highway, a person sixteen (16)\nyears of age or older operating an all -terrain vehicle on public property shall wear\napproved protective headgear, in the manner prescribed by the secretary of the\nTransportation Cabinet, at all times that the vehicle is in motion. The approved\nheadgear requirement shall not apply when the operator of any all -terrain vehicle is\nengaged in:\n(a) Farm or agriculture related activities;\n(b) Mining or mining exploration activities;\n(c) Logging activities;\n(d) Any other business, commercial, or industrial activity;\n(e) Use of that vehicle on private property; or\n(f) The crossing of a public roadway with a posted speed limit of fifty -five (55)\nmiles per hour or less. The crossing of a public roadway outlined in this\nparagraph shall be in compliance with subsection (7)(a) of this section.\n(6) (a) A parent or legal guardian of a minor who is under the age of six (6) shall not\nknowingly allow that person to operate an all-terrain vehicle.\n(b) A person under the age of sixteen (16) y ears shall not operate an all -terrain\nvehicle except under direct parental supervision.\n(c) A person under the age of sixteen (16) years, when operating or riding as a\npassenger on an all -terrain vehicle, shall wear approved protective headgear,\nin the manner prescribed by the secretary of the Transportation Cabinet, at all\ntimes that the vehicle is in motion.\n(d) A parent or guardian of a minor who is under the age of sixteen (16), or who\ndoes not possess an instruction permit, an intermediate license, or an\noperator's license, shall not knowingly allow that person to carry a passenger\nwhile operating an all-terrain vehicle.\n(e) A parent or guardian of a minor under the age of sixteen (16) shall not\nknowingly allow that person to operate an all -terrain vehicle in violation of\nthe age restriction warning label affixed by the manufacturer as required by\nthe federal all-terrain vehicle standards.\n(7) (a) Except for off -highway vehicles described in KRS 189.281, a person may\noperate an all -terrain vehicle on any  two (2) lane public highway in order to\ncross the highway. In crossing the highway under this paragraph, the operator\nshall cross the highway at as close to a ninety (90) degree angle as is practical\nand safe, and shall not travel on the highway for more than two-tenths (2/10)\nof a mile.\n(b) A person may operate an all -terrain vehicle on any two (2) lane public\nhighway, if the operator is engaged in farm or agricultural related activities,\nconstruction, road maintenance, or snow removal.\n(c) The Transportation Cabinet may designate, and a city or county government\nmay designate, those public highways, segments of public highways, and\nadjoining rights -of-way of public highways under its jurisdiction where all -\nterrain vehicles that are prohibited may be operated.\n(d) A person operating an all -terrain vehicle on a public highway under this\nsubsection shall possess a valid operator's license.\n(e) A person operating an all -terrain vehicle on a public highway under this\nsubsection shall comply with all applicable traffic regulations.\n(f) A person shall not operate an all -terrain vehicle under this subsection unless\nthe all -terrain vehicle has at least one (1) headlight and two (2) taillights,\nwhich shall be illuminated at all times the vehicle is in operation.\n(g) A person operating an all -terrain vehicle under this subsection shall restrict\nthe operation to daylight hours, except when engaged in snow removal or\nemergency road maintenance.\n(h) It shall be unlawful for a person to remove from an all -terrain vehicle t he\nmanufacturer age restriction warning label required by the federal all -terrain\nvehicle standards.","path":["KRS Chapter 189"],"source_url":"https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=51584","current_through":"Includes enactments through the 2026 Regular Session","vintage":"09/05/2026","retrieved_at":"2026-09-05T20:51:43Z","sha256":"883e8148962a060cf95038c970ea756d3aae8b0c8bf04ab67950bd439b115164","source_id":"us-ky","stale":false,"prev":"us-ky/krs-189.510","next":"us-ky/krs-189.517"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}