Off-Road Vehicle (ORV) Safety

ORV Youthful Operators

A person under 16 years of age may not operate an ORV. The owner of an ORV may not knowingly allow it to be operated by a person under 16 years of age.

ORV General Operations

  • All ORV passengers and operators must wear seat belts.
  • A valid driver’s license is required to cross roads. THE ONLY EXCEPTION would be for those portions of a designated trail that specifically include a road right-of-way.
  • ORV’s are required to have lights on while crossing public roads one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise and during periods of reduced visibility.
  • An ORV environmental and safety training course is available on a USB Flash Drive for persons 16 or older. The course covers ORV familiarization, operation procedures, laws, towing procedures, ethics, safety hazards and environmental considerations. Contact the Safety Training Office at Camp Ripley at 800-366-8917 to request a Flash Drive.

ORV Completion Requirements:

  • Read and complete each section of the ORV Flash Drive.
  • Complete and pass the exam.
  • Print one copy of the exam to use as a temporary certificate and print and mail another copy of the exam with a check or money order for $15 payable to the DNR to:

DNR Safety Training Section
15011 Hwy 115
Little Falls, MN 56345

You may:

  • Operate on state forest roads, trails and lands, as described on pages 20 – 23 in the Off-Highway Vehicles Regulations booklet.

You may not:

  • Operate an ORV within the right-of-way of an interstate highway;
  • Operate an ORV within a public road right-of-way except on a designated trail.

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