THURSDAY, May 28, 2026 |
Photo – Saratoga Town Hall – Bigfoot99 file photo
Saratoga officials opened the town’s streets to off-road vehicles.
Last September, Saratoga Police Chief John Moore announced that he had received complaints from residents about side-by-sides and other off-road vehicles operating within town limits. At the time, Chief Moore explained that Saratoga follows Wyoming Statute 31-2-232, which requires all off-road recreational vehicles, ORVs, used on public streets to be registered with the Wyoming Department of Transportation and display a Multipurpose Vehicle license plate.
The Saratoga Police Department hadn’t been citing ORV users, but Chief Moore acknowledged that the vehicles were technically illegal to drive in town.
The police chief suggested designating Saratoga’s streets as ORV trails, which would allow off‑road vehicles to operate in town by simply displaying a valid sticker issued by the Division of State Parks, Historic Sites, and Trails instead of requiring a WYDOT MPV license plate.
The Saratoga Town Council agreed with Chief Moore’s recommendation and instructed him to draft an ordinance designating the town’s roads as ORV trails. On April 15th, Ordinance 891, which allows off‑road vehicles to operate within town limits, was read for the first time. Like all changes to municipal statutes, the ordinance must be read three times at three separate public meetings.
Ordinance 891 was read for a second time during the May 6th Saratoga Town Council meeting. The final reading occurred on May 20th, where Town Clerk Jennifer Anderson read the ordinance by title.
Mayor Chuck Davis asked Chief Moore to provide a brief summary of the changes in Ordinance 891. The police chief explained that the regulations open the town’s streets to off-road vehicles with a valid State Parks and Trails sticker.
Councilman Jerry Fluty asked what equipment is required to operate an ORV in Saratoga. Chief Moore said the machine must have functional headlights, taillights, brake lights, and a muffler. It must also have a horn and a rear‑facing mirror. The chief added that turn indicators are not required because hand signals are legally acceptable for those who know how to use them.
Chief Moore said Ordinance 891 designates all town‑owned streets and alleyways as ORV trails except for Highway 130, which is owned and maintained by WYDOT. ORV drivers may cross the highway but are not permitted to travel along it. The statute also sets the hours when stickered off‑road vehicles may not operate.
Vehicles with a valid WYDOT MPV license plate are exempt from the regulations and may drive on Highway 130 and operate during the designated quiet hours.
Satisfied with the changes, the Saratoga Town Council unanimously passed Ordinance 891 on its third and final reading, designating all town-maintained roads as ORV trails. Copies of the new regulations are available at the Saratoga Town Hall.
