Declaration of policy

The rapid increase in the use of off-road vehicles and their growing impact upon aspects of the public interest are matters of concern to the General Assembly and to the people of this state. Therefore, in order to promote the safe use of off-road vehicles, to protect the wildlife and natural resources of the state, and to guarantee the availability of various forms of recreation to all citizens in an environment of diversity and quality, this chapter is enacted. (Ga. L. 1976, p. 330, § 2; Ga. L. 1985, p. 149, § 40.) 40-7-3. ‘‘Off-road vehicle’’ defined. As used in this chapter, the term ‘‘off-road vehicle’’ means any motorized vehicle designed for or capable of cross-country travel on or immediately over land, water, snow, ice, marsh, swampland, or other natural terrain and not intended for use predominantly on public roads. The term includes, but is not limited to, four-wheel drive vehicles, low-pressure tire vehicles, two-wheel vehicles, nonhighway tire vehicles, amphibious machines, ground effect or air cushion vehicles, and 459 40-7-4 any other means of transportation deriving power from any source other than muscle or wind. The term shall exclude any motorboat; any military, fire, law enforcement, or other government vehicle being used for official purposes; any vehicles used exclusively on airports; all farm machinery, farm tractors, and other vehicles used exclusively for agricultural purposes; any self-propelled equipment for harvesting and transportation of forest products, for clearing land for planting, for utility services and maintenance, for earth moving, construction, or mining; and self-propelled lawnmowers, snowblowers, garden or lawn tractors, or golf carts, while such vehicles are being used exclusively for their designed purposes. (Ga. L. 1976, p. 330, § 3; Ga. L. 2010, p. 98, § 1-1/HB 207; Ga. L. 2012, p. 726, § 4/HB 795.)