State OHV / ATV Laws

Note: The following is a summary of the state laws. Print and read the full text from the links below for the specific state(s). These laws may change so please check for updates.

Arizona

ATV’s can be driven on all roads if properly equipped and licensed, otherwise they can only be ridden on maintenance level 2 forest roads.
Arizona Game & Fish details all the vehicle laws, rules and regulations of OHVs in Arizona.

New Mexico

ATV's can only be ridden on unpaved roads.
New Mexico Game & Fish details the OHV laws in New Mexico.
NM Off-Highway Motor Vehicle resources discusses safety, age restrictions, training requirements, fees, penalties and OHV use.

Some excerpts that are of interest:
Section 66-3-1005 (Effective January 1, 2006) Exemptions.
The provisions of the Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Act [66-3-1001 to 66-3-1016 NMSA 1978] shall not apply to persons who operate off-highway motor vehicles on privately held lands or to off-highway motor vehicles that are:

A. owned and operated by an agency or department of the United States, this state or a political subdivision of this state; i.e. The USFS is exempt.

Section 66-3-1011 (Effective January 1, 2006) Operation on streets or highways; prohibited areas.
A. A person shall not operate an off-highway motor vehicle on any:
(1) limited access highway or freeway at any time; or
(2) any paved street or highway except as provided in Subsection B of this section.

B. Off-highway motor vehicles may cross streets or highways, except limited access highways or freeways, if the crossings are made after coming to a complete stop prior to entering the roadway. Off-highway motor vehicles shall yield the right of way to oncoming traffic and shall begin a crossing only when it can be executed safely and then cross in the most direct manner as close to a perpendicular angle as possible. i.e. By default, OHV's can operate on gravel & native surfaced roads in NM.
Section 66-3-1012 (Effective January 1, 2006) Driving of off-highway motor vehicles adjacent to highway.
A. Off-highway motor vehicles issued a validating sticker or nonresident permit may be driven adjacent to a highway, yielding to all vehicles entering or exiting the highway, in a manner so as not to interfere with traffic upon the highway, only for the purpose of gaining access to or returning from areas designed for the operation of off-highway motor vehicles by the shortest possible route and when no other route is available or when the area adjacent to a highway is being used as a staging area. Such use must occur between the highway and fencing that separates the highway from private or public lands.

B. When snow conditions permit, an off-highway motor vehicle may be operated on the right-hand side of a highway, parallel, but not closer than ten feet, to the inside of the plow bank.

Oklahoma

ATV’s may be operated on unpaved roads which are located within the boundaries of any property of the Forest Service of the United States Department of Agriculture. They can only cross other public roads.

OPERATION ON STREETS AND ROADWAYS
Oklahoma Statute 47-1151
Section E

“ . . . The provisions of this subsection shall also apply to those motor-driven or operated vehicles known as ‘all-terrain vehicles’, which are manufactured principally for use off the roads. All-terrain vehicles may be operated on unpaved roads which are located within the boundaries of any property of the Forest Service of the United States Department of Agriculture. Also, all-terrain vehicles may operate upon the public streets and highways of this state under the following circumstances:

An all-terrain vehicle may be operated upon public streets and highways if the vehicle needs to make a direct crossing of the street or highway while the vehicle is traveling upon a regularly traveled trail and needs to continue travel from one area of the trail to another and if the vehicle comes to a complete stop, yields the right-of-way to all oncoming traffic that constitutes an immediate hazard, and crosses the street or highway at an angle of approximately ninety (90) degrees to the direction of the street or highway. This exception shall not apply to divided highways or streets or highways with a posted speed limit of more than thirty-five (35) miles per hour in the area of the crossing;

The operator of the all-terrain vehicle making the crossing at a street or highway has a valid driver license; and

The operation of the vehicle making a crossing on a street or highway occurs during daylight hours only.”