OHV’s must be registered, licensed and be equipped properly to be street legal. (courtesy Andrew DiCamillo)
OHV’s must be registered, licensed and be equipped properly to be street legal. (courtesy Andrew DiCamillo)cca

The Aztec City Commission on Tuesday passed an ordinance allowing OHVs to operate on city-owned streets.

Aztec Mayor Mike Padilla said in an interview Wednesday that commissioners had to wait 30 days after the initial proposal for the final approval.

He said state statutes require that all OHVs be registered and licensed with the state. They must have all the features, including mirrors, lights and turn signals and a horn, in order to be street legal.

The ordinance will allow OHVs to cross state highways, but not to travel on them.

Padilla said they will be working with the state of New Mexico to allow OHVs on state highways that are in the city limits. He said they should “take into account” all the state highways, including U.S. Highways 550 and 64 that are the major thoroughfares in the city.

“There’s no way for an OHV in the city of Aztec not to be on a state highway at some point,” he said.

Ordinance 2023- 538, An Ordinance Amending Chapter 24, Article II Motor Vehicle Code

WHEREAS, Off-Highway Vehicles (OHVs) are not currently allowed on City Streets;WHEREAS, the amendment to the city ordinance will allow OHVs to legally operate on city-owned streets; andWHEREAS, the ordinance will allow OHVs to legally cross state highways; andWHEREAS, OHVs will not be allowed to operate in parks, walking trails, or any other place not authorized for vehicular traffic; andWHEREAS, the change to the ordinance should have a positive impact on the city’s outdoor recreation and allow for safer operation. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the Governing Body of the City of Aztec,New Mexico, that Ordinance 2023- 538 Amending Chapter 24, Section 24- 26 Off-

Highway Motor Vehicles and Fines be adopted as attached.As used in this division, the following definition shall apply:

Off-highway motor vehicleA motor vehicle designed by the manufacturer for operation exclusively off the highway or road and includes:1) “ Recreational off-highway vehicle,” which means a motor vehicle designed for travel on four or more non-highway tires, for recreational use by one or more persons.2) By- rule of the state department of game and fish, any other vehicles that may enter the market that fit the general profile of vehicles operated off the highway for recreational purposes.

An off-highway vehicle owned by Aztec Mayor Mike Padilla. (Courtesy Andrew DiCamillo)
An off-highway vehicle owned by Aztec Mayor Mike Padilla. (Courtesy Andrew DiCamillo)cca

Padilla wanted to make it clear that the OHVs must meet the state equipment requirements, and penalties carry fines.

“So people need to know especially in this day and age with outdoor recreation as big as it is and as many of these things that are around,” said Padilla.

He said he was pulled over a New Mexico Game and Fish officer when driving his OHV on Highway 173 after working a race at the motocross track outside Aztec.

“I found out the hard way,” he said, that Aztec did not have an OHV ordinance.

Padilla said his “next step” is to work with New Mexico Game and Fish Department and New Mexico Department of Transportation, who required that the ordinance be in place before any other action can take place.

As a way to stimulate economic development, outdoor recreation is being promoted in a big way.

Padilla said “It’s important that we address this.”

He said that his efforts will mirror what’s in place in Ruidoso, where they have an ordinance in place to allow OHVs on state highways within the city limits.