New ATV law won't apply in county

September 27, 2006

Hernando and Citrus counties became the second and third counties on the North Suncoast to opt out of a new state law that allows ATVs on county roads.

Hernando County Commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday morning to keep limits on where riders can drive the popular all-terrain vehicles.

Citrus County followed suit Tuesday afternoon.

The new state law allows licensed drivers, or minors under the supervision of a licensed driver, to drive ATVs during the day on unpaved county roads that have speed limits of 35 mph or slower.

Pasco County commissioners voted unanimously Sept. 11 to opt out of the law.

The law goes into effect Sunday unless county commissioners choose to opt out of it.

If counties opt out, ATV riders may drive only on private property with the permission of the property owner or in designated recreation areas like Croom motocross in Hernando County.

Hernando County had three ATV deaths this summer. On Aug. 12, Danielle M. Frascello, 13, of Brooksville died when the ATV she was riding struck a tree.

Less than three weeks later, James Freeman Jr., 34, and Richard R. Martin, 28, died after crashing an ATV they were riding into a stand of trees.

In Hillsborough County, three people were hurt in separate ATV accidents in the weeks before Frascello's death in August. Last week, a 14-year-old Dunnellon boy was hospitalized after his ATV flipped over in Citrus County.

Sheriff Richard Nugent said he didn't want to see 800-pound ATVs competing for space on county roads with 3,000-pound trucks.

"Not a good match," Nugent said.

Hernando County residents complained of the noise generated by ATV drivers speeding through their neighborhoods late at night.

Clarence McCandless was the lone opponent in Hernando of opting out. He lives in the Royal Highlands, near where Freeman, of New Port Richey, and Martin, of Weeki Wachee, were killed.

Keeping ATVs off county roads won't prevent those accidents, he said.

"You're penalizing all of the ATV users, safe and not safe," McCandless said.

Riders need to know how to operate the vehicles safely, he said. The county should require paid permits for ATV use and use the permit money for safety training, he said.

"We are safe riders. I have taught my children safe riding," McCandless said.

Asjylyn Loder can be reached at aloder@sptimes.com or (352)754- 6127.

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