Lewis County set to ask state to boost weight limits for off-road vehicles

LOWVILLE, New York (WWNY) - Lewis County is poised to send a message to New York state to change its traffic laws for side-by-sides and utility terrain vehicles to be registered.

A draft resolution, passed on Tuesday by the county Legislature’s general services committee, asks the state to make the changes. The resolution goes for a vote before the full Legislature next month.

The changes would allow for an increased maximum weight of all-terrain vehicles up to 2,000 pounds. That would let bigger ATVs, side-by-sides, and UTVs to be registered. The current limit under state law is 1,000 pounds.

“This is something that’s been needed to happen in New York state for a long time, being able to register those heavier UTVs,” District 4 Legislator Ian Gilbert said. “Regardless of what goes on in the county, this is something that New York state has fallen behind on.”

The committee’s vote was unanimous.

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