My family recently purchased a 4-wheeler, and although we no longer live in Rockford, we had to jump through a few hoops to be able to drive it on the streets of our Village. It's just what you need to do if you want to enjoy your toys legally, I guess.

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Rockford Has A Big Problem With Reckless ATV and Non-Highway Vehicle Drivers

Last summer I witnessed a scary road situation involving 2 motorbike drivers pulling standing wheelies in moving traffic on Perryville Road. Normally, I'm a "to each their own" kind of person, but my two kids were in the car too, and their unsafe driving maneuvers in the lane next to us made me extremely nervous.

This summer, the problem with reckless recreational vehicle drivers is ongoing in Rockford, and some might say it's worse than ever before.

The City of Rockford Will Be Cracking Down Harder on Unregistered ATVs

A recent City of Rockford Facebook post says that in response to many residents' complaints the Code and Regulation Committee passed some amendments to current Rockford ordinances regarding ATVs and other non-highway vehicles that include:

  • Declaring non-highway vehicles as nuisances that are illegal to drive on City streets.
  • Requiring all non-highway vehicles to be registered with the City of Rockford or they may be "subject to impound from public and private property".
  • Making it unlawful to keep or store unregistered vehicles.
  • Making it unlawful to fuel, or allow non-highway vehicles to be fueled, without being on a trailer.

These amendments will be up for full City Council approval on August 1, 2022, but they appear to have full support from Rockford's Mayor Tom McNamara.

Better start saving for that registration fee now.

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