Riders of all-terrain vehicles in Wisconsin have some new requirements after new rules took effect at the start of this month.
Changed rules include include prohibitions against towing objects with people onboard, restrictions on window tinting — and a seat belt requirement.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources said under the new law “ALL occupants of a UTV including the driver and passengers have to wear a seat belt.”
These regulations were approved by a unanimous vote of the Wisconsin Natural Resources Board, which updated the administrative codes.
Wisconsin has seen a surge in ATV and UTV activity in the past few years and an accompanying increase in fatal crashes.
As of January, the DNR reported more than 528,000 registrations for the trail-ready vehicles. The Wisconsin ATV/UTV Association says it has more than 40,000 members and about 130 local chapters across the state.
Randy Harden, the group’s president, said the association was included in talks with lawmakers about the regulation updates. The old ATV/UTV regulations were inconsistent, and behavior seen on trails was also part of the reason for the updated regulations.
A previous version of the law required seat belts, and Harden says its intention was always for it to apply to everyone in a vehicle. But when a rider in southwest Wisconsin challenged a ticket in court, it revealed an inconsistency in the way the policy was worded.
“The judge looked at the wording that was drafted, and it said all passengers must wear a seat belt, (but) didn’t say the driver,” Harden said. “This (new rule) corrects that and says all passengers and the driver must wear a seat belt.”
Last year, there were at least 300 ATV or UTV crashes reported to the DNR, resulting in 277 reported injuries.
“The majority of our serious injury and fatal crashes occur because of occupants choosing to not wear a seat belt or helmet,” said Lt. Jacob Holsclaw, DNR off-highway vehicle administrator.
In 2025 alone, the DNR reported a total of 41 deaths. In 32 of those fatal crashes, the people involved were not wearing seat belts. Only four of those deaths were in vehicles other than a UTV, DNR data shows.
It was the second-deadliest year for Wisconsin UTVs and ATVs on record.
While the new seat belt requirement is clear, advocates are realistic about its use.
“Will everybody do it? Absolutely not,” Harden said. “Does everybody wear their seat belts in the car? No, but that doesn’t mean you stop trying, and that’s really what this effort is.”
The DNR says enforcement will be handled through normal patrols by conservation wardens, sheriff’s offices and police in some areas.
“Officers will often use education and even citations if operators are found in violation of the new laws,” the DNR said in an email with WPR.
DNR data for 2024 shows 115 citations for operators not wearing seat belts.
Towing, tinting rules among other requirements
Under the new restrictions, it is now illegal for a UTV/ATV to tow people on a roadway or trail. The restriction has exceptions for private lands and on ice while going under 10 miles per hour, the DNR says.
“It excludes if your machine breaks down,” Harden said. “That’s a common sense exclusion,” he said.
Other changes include making it mandatory for riders younger than 18 to have a DOT-approved helmet and requiring eye protection if the machine does not have a windshield. The new law also limits window tinting.
The DNR says there are now fines for causing intentional damage to an ATV/UTV, which could be up to three times as much as the cost to repair it.
This story was originally published by WPR.
