The bill SB1567 introduces several new requirements and restrictions for operating off-highway vehicles (OHVs) in Arizona. It mandates that, starting January 1, 2025, individuals must complete an OHV Safety Education Course and provide proof of completion to obtain an OHV user indicia. Additionally, the bill prohibits the operation of OHVs without a valid driver's license and extends existing prohibitions on consuming or possessing open containers of spirituous liquor to include OHVs. It also sets helmet requirements for minors under 18 years old when operating or riding as passengers on OHVs on public or state land, with specific exemptions for children properly secured in child restraint systems and OHVs equipped with rollover protection systems.

The bill modifies the definition of a motor vehicle to exclude vehicles operated exclusively on water and redefines an OHV to include recreational or utility side-by-side vehicles and dirt bikes. It also establishes that citations for minors under 12 years old violating OHV operation restrictions will be issued to their parents or legal guardians, not the minors themselves. For minors between 12 and 16 years old, citations may be issued to either the minor or the parent/guardian. The Arizona Game and Fish Department is tasked with certifying the OHV Safety Education Course, which must be available online, and reporting on the implementation results by December 1, 2026. The provisions related to the OHV Course will be repealed on June 1, 2027.

Statutes affected:
Senate Engrossed Version: 4-251, 28-1171, 28-1174, 28-1179, 28-3151, 28-9551, 28-4301, 4-244, 28-627, 28-907
Chaptered Version: 4-251, 28-1171, 28-1174, 28-1179, 28-3151, 28-9551, 28-4301, 4-244, 28-627, 28-907