Jefferson County residents who own Class IV all-terrain vehicles will soon be able to ride them on specific county roads, following a vote by county commissioners this week.

Commissioners Mike Wunsch, Kelly Simmelink and Seth Taylor approved a resolution on September 9 designating 42 county roads — or portions of them — where street-legal, Class IV ATVs may operate. The move implements a broader ATV ordinance the board adopted last April.

What Qualifies as a Class IV ATV?

Class IV ATVs are defined as off-road capable vehicles no wider than 75 inches, with non-straddle seating and off-road tires. Vehicles must be equipped with standard road safety equipment including brake lights, turn signals, and seat belts. Drivers are required to hold a valid Oregon driver's license.

Jefferson County Public Works Director Matt Powlison helped finalize the road list after the county solicited public input following April's ordinance adoption. Many of the approved segments run less than two miles in length.

County Roads Only

Commissioner Wunsch said the focus was deliberately kept to roads the county itself maintains year-round.

"The big focus that I directed Matt to work on when we first started looking at potential roads is I want to make sure that we are only using county roads — roads that are maintained by us throughout the year, so that we're not putting a burden on other roads or any other jurisdiction." — Commissioner Mike Wunsch

To allow time for public notice and signage installation, the county plans to stagger when specific roads become active under the ordinance.

Community Reaction Mixed

Not all residents welcomed the change. Al Short, who lives in the Ranchos neighborhood, raised concerns about pedestrian safety in his community.

"We're very much a walking pedestrian neighborhood. We have kids with their parents, sometimes just kids by themselves, people walking dogs. We have a lot of elderly that walk through there. I see a potential accident happening." — Al Short, Ranchos resident

ATV enthusiasts were more optimistic. Tom Hurley of the Central Oregon Side-by-Side Club said responsible riding is a core value for organized ATV groups.

"Our main goal is to be safe and you leave it like you found it. You don't tear the roads up." — Tom Hurley, Central Oregon Side-by-Side Club

Hurley also noted that misuse of approved roads could result in access being reduced or revoked by the county.

What's Next

A map of approved road segments is available through the Jefferson County website. Residents with questions about which roads are included — and when each segment officially opens — can contact the Jefferson County Public Works office. Commissioners indicated they will monitor implementation and revisit the ordinance if concerns arise.