Who Sells Dirt Bikes and ATVs?

[ArcticSplash]

Turns out... the most popular seller is the Parking Authority!

Illegal ATVs helped by city's lax laws

[salf]

Why is it illegal to drive dirt bikes/ATVs in the city?

Just wondering.

[JJS]

The fact that the PPA is the most popular seller could be an advantage for the City.

ATVs must be registered with the PA Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources. PPA could require the purchasers to complete the registration process prior to removing the ATV from PPA property. Also, the DCNR imposes insurance requirements; if you're driving anywhere other than "land owned or leased by you", the ATV must be insured. Again, PPA could require proof of insurance prior to removing the vehicle from the PPA lot.

I haven't researched the issue, but I wonder whether PPA violates the law by selling vehicles without ensuring compliance with the registration and insurance requirements.

Here's a link to the DCNR page: PA*DCNR*-*ATV Registration.

[JJS]

Why is it illegal to drive dirt bikes/ATVs in the city?

Just wondering.

Vehicles intended for road use must have turn signals, headlights, brake lights, mufflers to keep the noise below a certain decibel level, they require registration plates, the operators have to be licensed (in the case of motorcycles, the operators need a motorcycle license, which requires them to pass a written exam, take a skills course, pass a skills test), must meet emissions requirements, and they have to be insured. Dirt bikes and ATVs don't have headlights (so aren't visible at night), don't have turn signals (so they can't indicate their turns), don't have brake lights (so they can't indicate that they're braking), have mufflers that value performance over noise reduction (so they make too much noise), aren't (typically) insured (so if you get into an accident with one, you better have uninsured motorist coverage); thus, they present a heightened risk of damage/injury to themselves and other motorists.

[salf]

Vehicles intended for road use must have turn signals, headlights, brake lights, mufflers to keep the noise below a certain decibel level, they require registration plates, the operators have to be licensed (in the case of motorcycles, the operators need a motorcycle license, which requires them to pass a written exam, take a skills course, pass a skills test), must meet emissions requirements, and they have to be insured. Dirt bikes and ATVs don't have headlights (so aren't visible at night), don't have turn signals (so they can't indicate their turns), don't have brake lights (so they can't indicate that they're braking), have mufflers that value performance over noise reduction (so they make too much noise), aren't (typically) insured (so if you get into an accident with one, you better have uninsured motorist coverage); thus, they present a heightened risk of damage/injury to themselves and other motorists.

ok, didn't know all that.

No idea about ATVs but dirt bikes don't have head, turn and brake lights?..

In other countries they do, and since most of them are made in the US, I don't get why they wouldn't have all those features here. Also, why aren't required to be licensed and registered? (again, like in other countries), they're just another motor vehicle, not a bicycle.

If you ask me, instead of making them illegal, why don't just make them legal (with all the requirements that such thing would imply)

The only thing that bothers me about dirt bikes/ATVs in an urban environment is the noise, but they probably make less noise than Harleys. I frigging hate Harleys.

EDIT: Actually, now that I think about it, not most of them are made in the US, however, they do have headlights, brake lights, etc.

[cewillm]

ok, didn't know all that.

No idea about ATVs but dirt bikes don't have head, turn and brake lights?..

In other countries they do, and since most of them are made in the US, I don't get why they wouldn't have all those features here. Also, why aren't required to be licensed and registered? (again, like in other countries), they're just another motor vehicle, not a bicycle.

If you ask me, instead of making them illegal, why don't just make them legal (with all the requirements that such thing would imply)

The only thing that bothers me about dirt bikes/ATVs in an urban environment is the noise, but they probably make less noise than Harleys. I frigging hate Harleys.

EDIT: Actually, now that I think about it, not most of them are made in the US, however, they do have headlights, brake lights, etc.

You're thinking of dual sport motorcycles, which are basically dirt bikes with all the street-legal fixins', not the plane-jane dirt bikes, which these kids are buying and riding around. Not many hooligans can afford a dual sport, I'd bet.



That said, requiring residents to register their ATVs and dirt bikes would never work. Do you actually think these kids would go down to some city office or mail in paperwork?