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   This month (May 2026) marks two years since Cass County adopted its new all-terrain vehicle ordinance. The past two years have been spent on education and enforcement efforts while making contact with hundreds of ATV operators throughout the County. While we are experiencing mostly high levels of compliance with the new ATV ordinance there is still work to be done. 

   While this is not a perfect ordinance for every rider, property owner and situation, it addresses some of the issues that we are often called to investigate and monitor and address complaints that we receive regarding ATVs and their use on public roads and right-of-way. The ordinance is comprehensive for Class I and II ATVs, consistent with the current state statute. Class 1 all-terrain vehicle is an all-terrain vehicle that has a total width of 50 inches or less from the outside of tire rim to the outside of the tire rim on one side. Class 2 all-terrain vehicle is an all-terrain vehicle that has a total width greater than 50 inches but not more than 65 inches from the outside of the tire rim to the outside of the tire rim on one side.

   The ordinance addresses Operation of All-Terrain Vehicles on County Roads in Cass County. 

   • An all-terrain vehicle shall be operated on any County Highway in the same direction of travel as other vehicular traffic. 

   • An all-terrain vehicle shall not be operated outside of the traveled portions of the County Highway and shall remain on the far-right side of the paved surface or gravel surface on a gravel highway. 

   • Except as otherwise provided in this ordinance, an all-terrain vehicle operated on a County Highway shall comply with applicable federal, state, and local laws or rules. 

   • Every driver of an all-terrain vehicle on a County Highway is responsible for becoming and remaining aware of the actual and potential hazards existing on the County Highway and must use due care in operating an all-terrain vehicle. 

   • No person shall operate an all-terrain vehicle on a County Highway at speeds greater than reasonable under the conditions. Class 1 all-terrain vehicles shall not exceed a speed of 30 miles per hour, and Class 2 all-terrain vehicles shall not exceed the posted speed limit of the County Highway. 

   • When multiple all-terrain vehicles are operated on a County Highway in the same direction of travel, the vehicles shall be operated one in front of the other in a single-file manner. 

   • Operation of an all-terrain vehicle on a County Highway shall not result in the spinning of tires.

   • To operate an all-terrain vehicle on a County Highway, a person born after July 1, 1987, must possess a valid all-terrain safety certificate issued by the commissioner of natural resources and must have their own valid driver’s license or be accompanied by a person 18 years of age or older who is in possession of a valid driver’s license. 

   • The Cass County Board of Commissioners may close any segment of County Highway authorized through this ordinance for all-terrain vehicle use. 

   • Unless otherwise noted in this ordinance, an all-terrain vehicle operating on a County Highway shall obey all Minnesota Statutes related to all-terrain vehicles and shall comply with all driving rules found in Minnesota Statutes Chapter 169.

   It is important to note that this ordinance is only in effect on County roadways. State statute still applies to State Highways, Township and City roads and streets. 

   Our deputies noted positive interactions with the public while completing education and enforcement efforts. The variation in operation is mostly operating some machines still in the ditch or ROW of the roadways and not staying to the extreme right of the hard surface of the roadway. 

   Through enforcement and education efforts, fatal and serious injury ATV crashes continue to decline from very high numbers seen in the early 2020s. Our efforts will continue to enforce and educate the public on this topic. 

   If you have specific questions that you would like answered in this column or in person, please feel free to contact me anytime using one of the following methods:

   Email: [email protected]

   Phone: (218) 547-1424  1 (800) 450-2677

   By Mail/In Person:

Cass County Sheriff’s Office, 303 Minnesota Ave W, PO Box 1119,

Walker, MN 56484

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