ATTENTION ARIZONA OHV OWNERS:

Vehicle Identification Numbers (VIN) and Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Stickers
A new Arizona OHV law will go into effect on 1/1/09. The following paragraph has been provided by Joe Sacco of the Arizona Game and Fish and Holly Bowers of the Arizona Motor Vehicle Departments:

The OHV Decal will be available for purchase online at http://www.servicearizona.com/ on January 1, 2009, and will go on sale the next business day, January 2nd, 2009 at MVD offices and through MVD Authorized Service Providers.
MVD has indicated that if a person walks in on January 2nd and purchases a decal for their titled and plated OHV they will receive it on the spot and be able to apply to their plate for display. In the case that a person purchases one online they will receive a printable confirmation that they may carry until receipt of the decal in the mail (usually within three to five days).

In order to get the OHV Decal the machine will need to be titled and plated. Therefore we are encouraging those that do not have a title and/or plate for their machine visit MVD or an authorized service provider as soon as possible and get this taken care of prior to January 1st. This way, they may purchase the decal on line at http://www.servicearizona.com/ and avoid a trip to MVD after the effective date. The OHV Decal will be available on January 2, 2009.
Owners of qualifying OHVs need to be making efforts to purchase the decal when it becomes available. Your new 2009 AZ registration document will be accepted by the law enforcement agencies at the Imperial Sand Dunes until you receive your AZ decal/sticker.

Your new 2009 AZ registration document will be accepted by the law enforcement agencies at the Imperial Sand Dunes until you receive your AZ decal/sticker. Please note that the AZ law does not apply to vehicles over 1800 pounds and therefore a CA Non-Resident sticker must be purchased for these vehicles.
Until the Arizona OHV program is fully implemented, to be legal in California, you must have a California Non-Resident Sticker, Arizona MC, or RV plate. Neither the California nor Arizona OHV registration allows you to ride on highways in California. It allows you to ride off-highway. If you have a VIN or other unique identification number affixed to the OHV, and it matches your registration you are in compliance with the law.

Remember:

1) Your VIN / identification number must match your registration.

2) You must have a California Non-Resident Sticker, Arizona MC, or RV plate attached on the left side, facing the rear, of your OHV.

3) Once the Arizona OHV program is fully implemented, you will also be required to comply with the Arizona OHV laws. California will honor your Arizona registration and OHV decal as long as it is properly displayed.

Thank you,
The American Sand Association
Unite, Inform, and Mobilize
100% VOLUNTEER 100% nonprofit
Questions and comments can be sent to: asaboard@americansandassociation.org

OK, so this makes matters even more confusing.......

1. What if you were planning on being in the dunes from December 26 till January 4th? You cant even get the sticker until January 1?

2. What if your buggy has a AZ RV plate currently, and weighs more than 1800 lbs? Mine is 2400 lbs, does this mean I dont have to do anything?

The BLM FAQ says they're honoring RV plate only as valid for "the 2008/2009 season" so just like now you should be ok. If you really want to play CYA and pay cash into a broken system that's used against us then get an out of state sticker as extra insurance.



Apparently reading comprehension isn't high on this board. From the post above:

you could have found a better way to respond to that . remember we are all on the same side . tim

Agreed.

Repeating myself is one of my biggest pet peeves. And I've been doing it a LOT the past month in regards to the whole registration issue AND fence issues. I try to not post before my caffeine kicks in to keep myself in check....this time I didn't. It happens. I can't say it won't happen again but I will say I try very hard to limit how often I let my frustrations get the better of me.

well i must say ,it is nice to have a go to guy with info and someone who can tell you where he got it and that it's factual ! so with that said thanks for the info . obviously all the info is out there it just seems you know where to look and be able to put together in one place for us lazy people

Sometimes you have to wonder.

Thank you for the info azpyroguy.

Thank you for your posts Jason. I always find them informative, accurate and to the point.

Has anyone tested this new law at ISDRA against the LEO's
I am going next weekend with a quad and sandrail (1100#'s) with AZ OHV tags the new ones,
I would like to feel more confident about not getting the CA non-res tag and NOT getting a ticket.
as i understand things I should be good to go .....but lack confidence in all parts of the legal system to catch up worries me.

I was out last weekend with my AZ plates and new AZ tags. Only saw one ranger who was just doing the quick drive-by around Buttercup to check for passes.

But then again I've been running just AZ plates with no CA sticker for about 5 years now without any problems. Or any other problems with LEO's for that matter.

Actualy the new AZ off road tag is not for sand buggies. It states for side by sides, motorcycles and quads. It also says it has to under 1800# which leaves most long travel cars out. They told me just to run the old lifetime RV plate. They also said it was legal in CA. They are only interested in you having it regestered so you can prove it is yours.
DON~~~

Get over yourself....

The AZ law says nothing against buggies, and does not specifically mention side by sides, motorcycles or quads. It says "OHVS" which by AZ law is defined as anything designed primarily for off-road travel and weighing under 1800 lbs. So yes, larger cars don't qualify. But smaller cars (like mine, 1345# wet) are still included.

The RV plate only is NOT legal in CA despite what someone at a local AZ DMV office may say. Even the AZ fish and game deparatment (who oversee OHV's which is why the 1800# limit) will tell you that your AZ RV plate is simply proof of title and not legal registration which is what is required in CA.

If you want to be legal in the dunes then you either need the new AZ stickers if you qualify for them. Or have to buy the CA out of state sticker.

In AZ yes, you're ok with just the plate if you're over 1800 lbs, but if you're under 1800 lbs or you want to go to the dunes then you need a sticker - either the AZ or the CA depending on your situation.

I heard different.

Under 1800 lbs, title, plate and AZ decal. (proof of purchase accepted)

Over 1800 lbs, title, plate and CA 'out of state' sticker.

That's what I said, what part is different?

The ranger told me the sticker for a vehicle over 1800 lbs is supposed to be a CA sticker.

Correct, since if you're over 1800lbs you can't get an AZ sticker in the first place.

Didn't mean to imply that if you're over 1800lbs you're exempt from anything.

Bottom line - you need a sticker. The only question is whether you can get the AZ sticker or if you have to go with the CA sticker.

Ok, might be a repeated question but as far as I'm concerned this whole thing is effed!

1) If my sandcar is street legal in AZ and is over 1800 pounds will my street legal license plate and tags be enough?
2) Does the RV plate thing working for the 2008/2009 season work on the quads and side x sides also?

Thank you in advance for your patience

If you're street legal than you are registered and covered. However if you drive it on any roads (including wash rd and gecko) while at the dunes then you need a dune permit for it. If you don't drive on any roads then it's best to stop at the ranger station or pass inspection on the way in and get them to issue you a "towed in vehicle" pass so there's no confusion about whether or not it needs a pass.

As for the RV plate thing - it shouldn't matter what the vehicle is. If they're honoring just the plate for the rest of the season then it applies to all vehicles that the plates apply to. However while the BLM site says they're continuing to honor just the plates for the rest of the season there have been reports from some people about rangers telling them they were only giving a week or two of leeway. That may just be scare tactics to make people get their AZ tags ASAP...or it could just be miscommunication...or the BLM may have changed their mind.

Also, that's only the BLM saying that. Who knows what ICSO or CHP are thinking and whether or not they're following the lead of the BLM.

Thank you for the answers...looks like I will be buying some stickers for the quads and ranger and stay off roads with my sandcar
I appreaciate it!
Damn, I just realized that is $125.00 in stickers NOT INCLUDING my car...that bites!