MONROE — Beginning July 1, Green County has a slew of new road access for all-terrain and utility vehicles (ATV/UTV). However, riders should be aware that routes are not open until a sign is installed.

At the June 14 Green County Board of Supervisors’ meeting, five townships had their limited county road access approved: Washington, Cadiz, Decatur, Adams and Jefferson. The City of Monroe also has updates its routes. York, New Glarus, Exeter, Brooklyn, Albany, Mt. Pleasant, Jordan, Monroe, Sylvester, Spring Grove and Clarno townships did not have updated measures approved.

In Washington, Cadiz, Decatur and Adams townships, ATV/UTV access is available on all roads except highways, though new updates include limited access on county highways. Jefferson Township only allows access on County P from Five Corner Road east to Freeport/Hummer Road, and north to County K, and on County K from County P east to Jefferson and Spring Grove town line, approximately ¾ of a mile east of County S.

“Thank you for all your patience during this process, our baby steps are finally starting to become a running toddler,” the Green County ATV Club posted on its Facebook page June 15. The club went on to ask its members and followers to obey the traffic laws, with a reminder that any incident could lead to an immediate change in the opposite direction. “Please be courteous and pay attention. It took us a long time to get here, and it can be taken away from us in an instant.”

Among the rules ATV/UTV drivers face include keeping lights on at all times; maintaining a maximum speed limit of 35 mph, even when regular vehicle traffic is 55; no operations during nighttime hours, with the limit set at no later than 30 minutes after sunset until 30 minutes before sunrise; and no person under the age of 16 can operate an ATV/UTV on any segment of the newly approved road routes. 

ATV/UTVs should be registered with the state, and registration number and plate should be displayed as well. Wisconsin requires registration of ATV/UTVs in order to operate on any trail.

“… all ATVs and UTVs registered as public use will be required to furnish a rear plate that displays the registration number. Plates can be created or purchased,” the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) states on its website. Plates must be a minimum of 4 inches in heigh and 7.5 inches wide and made of white material. The registration number must be made of black lettering and a minimum of 1.5 inches high with 3/16-inches of stroke. More information can be found at 

dnr.wisconsin.gov.

— Adam Krebs and Gary Mays