HERNANDO COUNTY, Fla. — A few changes are being made for ATV usage.

What You Need To Know

  • Hernando County Commissioners approve a new ordinance in a 4-1 vote, prohibiting all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) to operate on any public county roadway, paved or unpaved

  • Ordinance repeals a previous one which made it legal to operate ATVs on public, unpaved roads with speed limits under 35 mph

  • The new law does not apply to private property, nor golf carts

County commissioners have passed an ordinace prohibiting the all-terrain vehicles from riding on unpaved county roads. The ordinance repeals a previous one which made it legal to operate ATVs on public, unpaved roads with speed limits under 35 miles per hour.

Commissioner Steve Champion was the only voice against the new ordinance, saying it will limit the rights of those riders obeying the law.

"It’s not a conservative thing to do, to restrict law abiding citizens from abiding by the law," said Champion. "Instead, we should punish the people that are breaking the law.”

Now those in favor say the ordinance will help conserve areas and avoid any damages. Golf carts are not affected by the ordinance. The new law also does not apply to private property.

That is where a few local businesses come in.

“Once I knew there was availability up here and a spot to ride, I just decided to start the business," said David Collins.

For most of his life, Collins has been riding ATVs. It’s what prompted him to start up his own, off-roading tour business Wolfpack ATV Rentals. Based out of the Witlacoochee State Forest.

"This park is beautiful," he says. "It’s 2,600 acres of wooded trails so it’s fun to get out of the city a little bit and just ride.”

It’s also one of the few areas where businesses, like Collins’, can operate from.

“This is a state park so we’re at the mercy of their hours.”

Under a new ordinance, ATVs are not allowed to ride on unpaved county roads. But being a state park, the Witlacoochee State Forest is private property. Meaning atv riders can continue to ride. Just so long as it’s within normal operating hours.

“I could keep this going after hours," said Collins. "What I consider ‘after hours’ is until dark. We could ride on the roads but it’s just that we never have because I think it all comes down to reliability. I don’t want any chance of a car or any other vehicle besides a four-wheeler in an incident.”

It’s this perspective for safety that Collins is in agreement with the ordinance.

“They own this property and they have this solely blocked off for a state ATV and dirt bike park. It’s not like anybody is going to be able to have any issue with that.”

What they might have issues with, however, will be not having the right to ride on restricted areas. Something Collins says could pave the way for another new set of rules.

“There’s people out in this country, maybe that’s their only vehicle. If they want to be able to just go down to another neighbor’s, just riding on the side of the road or something. Give them the opportunity just like a bike would.”

Until that day arrives, Collins is going to continue to do what he knows best.

“Unless there’s a hurricane, this park closed down once last year. We say ‘the state park — rain or shine’ we’re out here.”