ATV Florida Forum

On July 1, 2008, new rules go into effect for the use of ATVs by kids on public lands.  Part of the rules require that children use age-appropriate machines and to also attend a safety class in proper ATV operation.  I have no problem with my kids taking a safety course, regardless of the price.  Let's face it; there have been too many tragedies with kids riding ATVs and we have to start somewhere.  The question I do have regards engine displacement for different age groups.  These engine size restrictions were created when the vast majority of youth ATVs were powered by 2-stroke engines.  Now that the 2-strokes have been mostly replaced by 4-stroke engines, shouldn't the engine size restrictons be adjusted accordingly?  How do I tell my son that he has to park his 90cc race quad for 3 years and ride some anemic 4-stroke 69cc turd that can't even get out of its own way?  Granted, these restrictions are for public lands only, but the level of performance used for the initial guideline should remain consistent.  Not only that, how do you justify putting a 13-15-year-old kid on a 90cc quad?  The small size alone makes it dangerous for the kid not to mention his skills most likely far exceed the performance level of the quad.  These standards have to be re-visited.

I agree with you on this. They are covering their butts on this. My son has been riding a yamaha 80 since age 6, he is 9 years old. I do not think your going to get this changed. More big government stepping into where they should not be.

I agree with both of you.  There is more to this than age.  I have a 10 year old that has her own Recon and has since she was 8.  She is 5'3", only 2" shorter than me.  Her discipline has far surpassed her 10 years.  Putting her on anything smaller would be quite humorous.  It is the parents responsibility to know what their child can and should ride.  I know that I can't let my 6 year old loose on a 90 for a while.  She has no self discipline and loves to go fast.  She will be a rider for a while.  If all parents would use common sense, it would be a much safer sport.

Im definitly behind you on this. I am so glad because ill be 16 by time all this crap happens! It is definitly a terrible rule. Another thing you have to condsider is that i can go riding 2 days before my 16th birthday. Then the day after i can go hop on a 800cc twin cylander 700 pound beast and go rippin out and nobody could stop me. Its really dumb. I wish they would go by rider weight or something instead of age. But then the argument aginst that is that would be too unenforceable. Or mabye just let the parents decide. But people are stuipid and that gives power to the people wich is the last thing the goverment wants. So its defintly something that needs to be revised.

I believe they need type ratings for kids, just like pilots. In aviation you must have a Pilots license and then a type rating in every type of aircraft you want to fly. That prevents me as a Private Pilot who has only flown a basic cessna from hoping in an aircraft with retractable gears, more powerful engine, etc. If they would make all kids get an ATV license and then have different ratings for what the kid has shown he can handle I think it would solve a lot of problems. I also don't see a problem with requiring insurance to ride on public lands.

i definatly agree that they should do it like a liscense, you past certain "safety tests" and show a certain skill level to ride diffrent types and sizes of atvs