In 2017 the Utah Legislature passed HB82 which made it legal for all terrain vehicles (ATV, UTV, OTV, side-by-sides) to be driven on public roads. This has been a disaster for Moab, not only for our residents but for many of our guests. If you come to Moab because you enjoy hiking, biking, birding, or just relaxing in a quiet and incredibly beautiful environment, the proliferation of UTVs since HB82 has destroyed the tranquility for much of the year.
The noise can be deafening not just from sunrise to sunset but late into the night. It doesn’t matter if you are staying in a hotel on Main St., a bed and breakfast in a residential neighborhood or camping in Grand County. The vehicles are everywhere and so is the noise. In addition to the noise, when UTVs travel in groups, as they often do, they can pose a threat to pedestrians and other vehicles. Finally, in part because of the sheer numbers, when off the pavement and on the trails, they damage the desert’s fragile ecosystem.
This summer the Grand County Commission and the Moab City Council put an indefinite pause on new licenses for ATV events and new ATV rental, sales and tour companies. While this is a start, it is not enough.
The Utah Legislature needs to pass legislation that allows communities to regulate ATV use based on the specific needs and desires of the community. Please contact your state legislator and ask him/her to develop and then pass legislation that grants communities the right to regulate ATV use within their boundaries.
Nan L. Marquardt, Moab