Or. Admin. Code § 735-116-0000

Current through Register Vol. 63, No. 12, December 1, 2024

Section 735-116-0000 - Safety Equipment Standards for Off-Road Vehicles

(1) The Transportation Safety Office of the Department of Transportation adopts the following equipment requirements for off-road vehicles that operate in areas as described in ORS 821.020.

(2) For purposes of this rule, the following definitions apply:

(a) "Off-road vehicle" means any motor vehicle designed for or capable of cross-country travel on or immediately over land, water, sand, snow, ice, marsh, swampland, or other natural terrain;

(b) "Motor vehicle" means any vehicle which is self-propelled;

(c) "Motorcycle" means any motor vehicle designed to travel with not more than two wheels in contact with the ground, and so that the driver sits astride the vehicle frame and a Class III all-terrain vehicle as defined in ORS 801.194;

(d) "Multi-wheeled motorized vehicle" means a Class 1 all-terrain vehicle as defined in ORS 801.190 and any other motor vehicle, except a tractor, designed to travel with three or more wheels in contact with the ground, with the driver sitting astride the vehicle frame; and

(e) "Class II all-terrain vehicle" means any motor vehicle as defined in ORS 801.193.

(3) Safety equipment standards for off-road vehicles subject to this rule are:

(a) Brakes. All vehicles must have disc or drum brakes that are operable and effective in bringing the vehicle to a stop;

(b) Chain Guard. Any vehicle equipped with a chain must have a guard so designed that in the event of failure, the chain will remain under the vehicle;

(c) Fire Extinguisher. All vehicles, except motorcycles and multi-wheeled motorized vehicles, must be equipped with a functional dry chemical type fire extinguisher of at least two pounds capacity that is approved by the Underwriters Laboratories or other acceptable testing agency;

(d) Flag. All vehicles must display a highly visible red or orange flag when operating on the sand. The flag must:

(A) Be displayed at a height of at least nine feet from the ground level when the vehicle is under power; and

(B) Have one side that is at least eight inches wide, and be at least twelve inches long;

(e) Floor Pan/Foot Pads. All vehicles must have floor pans, with the exception of motorcycles and multi-wheeled motorized vehicles, that must have foot pads or the equivalent, so designed and mounted as to keep the driver's and any passenger's feet within the frame of or from underneath the vehicle;

(f) Fuel Tank. All fuel tanks must be:

(A) Securely mounted;

(B) Properly constructed of metal, plastic, or other industry safety approved material;

(C) Properly constructed for the carrying of fuel; and

(D) All connections must be kept secure and tight.

(g) Muffler. All vehicles must be equipped with a muffler that conforms to the current noise level and defect standards of the Department of Environmental Quality for vehicles operated off-road;

(h) Roll Bar. All vehicles, except motorcycles and multi-wheeled motorized vehicles, must be equipped with a roll bar or other enclosure that will support the vehicle's weight and be so designed as to protect the occupants' head(s) when the vehicle is resting on this roll bar or enclosure;

(i) Seats. All vehicles must be equipped with a securely mounted seat for the driver and each passenger;

(j) Seat Belts. All vehicles, except motorcycles and multi-wheeled motorized vehicles, must be equipped with securely mounted seat belts of the quick-release type, readily available for use for the driver and each passenger;

(k) Windshield. When the vehicle, except a motorcycle, is operated:

(A) On a highway and the vehicle is equipped with a windshield, the top edge of which is at least six inches above the steering wheel, the vehicle must be equipped with an effective working windshield wiper.

(B) Off the highway and the vehicle is equipped with a windshield, the windshield must be unobstructed.

(l) Headlights and Taillights. At any time from one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour after sunrise, all vehicles shall be equipped with and display headlights and taillights. Motorcycles and multi-wheeled motorized vehicles shall be equipped with a minimum of one headlight and one taillight.

Or. Admin. Code § 735-116-0000

MV 65, f. & ef. 12-15-75; MV 17-1983, f. & ef. 12-5-83; Renumbered from 735-080-0200, MV 12-1986, f. & ef. 8-22-86; DMV 10-2003(Temp), f. & cert. ef. 7-17-03 thru 1-12-04; Administrative Renumbering 3-1988, Renumbered from 735-080-0200,, MV 12-1986, f. & ef. 8-22-86; DMV 2-2004, f. & cert. ef. 1-15-04; DMV 50-2021, minor correction filed 12/08/2021, effective 12/8/2021; DMV 24-2023, amend filed 11/14/2023, effective 11/14/2023

Statutory/Other Authority: ORS 184.619, 802.010 & 821.030

Statutes/Other Implemented: ORS 821.010, 821.020, 821.030 & 821.040