MARCH 19, 2026 — The La Crosse County Board voted 20-8 to approve an ordinance amendment that significantly expands local municipal control over all-terrain vehicle and utility vehicle routes on county highways.

The ordinance, which passed on its second consideration, streamlines the process for authorizing ATV/UTV routes within municipal boundaries. Under the new rules, if a city, village, or town authorizes a route within its boundaries, county highways on that route are automatically authorized by the county. However, where county highways have shared jurisdiction between municipalities, all jurisdictions must agree before the route opens to ATVs and UTVs.

The amendment removes the county application process and requires the highway department to post signs on county highways that are not authorized for ATV/UTV use. Approximately 88% of the county's 280 miles of roads have already been approved for such use, leaving roughly 30 miles remaining.

Safety Concerns Dominate Opposition
Several board members raised significant safety objections during the debate. One supervisor highlighted alarming statistics about ATV and UTV accidents statewide, noting that alcohol and THC involvement is trending upward, with 41 deaths recorded in 2025.

The opponent also pointed out regulatory gaps: ATVs can be operated by children as young as 12 years old with only a DNR safety certificate—which can be obtained online without any on-road test, vision exam, or hearing examination. The certificate never expires. Additionally, there is no driver's license requirement and no mandatory liability insurance for ATVs and UTVs, unlike automobiles.

Performance specifications also raised concerns. High-performance UTVs can reach speeds of 80 miles per hour or more, while moderate-size ATVs typically travel between 50 and 65 miles per hour—speeds that can exceed 80 mph.

One supervisor expressed personal experience with the issue, noting that she had to remove her teenage children from ATVs due to reckless driving by neighborhood youth. She also expressed concern about individuals with DUI convictions being able to operate ATVs.

Opponents argued the ordinance would eliminate important county oversight and reduce the board's ability to address public safety on county highways. They called for at minimum driver's license requirements and alcohol-related restrictions before ceding control.

Supporters Cite Rural Reality
Proponents of the ordinance painted a different picture of ATV and UTV use in La Crosse County. One supervisor argued that most deaths and problems associated with ATVs occur in northern Wisconsin, where there are extensive off-road trail systems attracting hundreds of non-local riders on weekends—a situation he said doesn't apply to La Crosse County.

He noted that the county has had most of its roads open for ATVs and UTVs for several years without major incident. According to his observations, most ATV and UTV operators in rural La Crosse County are older residents with gray hair, and the vast majority already carry liability insurance.

"Most of the UTVs that you see driving around out here are traveling 40 miles an hour," the supervisor said, adding that these vehicles blend naturally with other road users like e-bikes, bicycles, and slow-moving farm equipment. He emphasized that ATVs and UTVs are "easy to pass, they're narrow, they have brakes, they're easy to stop. They have seat belts, they have lights, brake lights".

The committee chair stressed that the ordinance doesn't represent a loss of county power but rather a delegation of authority to local municipalities with shared jurisdiction.

Next Steps
The ordinance now moves to implementation, with the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee responsible for coordinating signage and working with municipalities on route authorizations.