09/01/2026
Monday August 31, 2026, ATV MN Regional Directors Darrel Palmer and Dean Schliek, along with All Terrain Vehicle Association of Minnesota Presidential Candidate, Perry May, met with Representative Joshua Heintzeman and Senator Keri Heintzeman to discuss many topics, including trail funding, registration fees, and increased vehicle weight. It was a very positive and productive meeting!
Let’s face it, we want new trails but we need more money to build them! All of us are in favor of increasing the opportunities for our riders across the entire state, with that comes challenges. The issues I would like to see some feedback on is a WEIGHT LIMIT INCREASE, whether you ride one or not we all know the bigger machines are here and they are here to stay. The issue we are running into is as people are buying four seat machines, and even six seat machines. Our number of registrations are on the decline. This means less registration equals less money. Our current fund that we can draw from to build trails is virtually depleted. So as riders, we need to figure out how we can continue to build a new trails and give new opportunities. Wisconsin has increased their weight limit to 3500 pounds. Would you be supportive of doing the same in Minnesota?  we see vehicles that are over the legal weight limit on our trails every day. The issue comes when these vehicles are being registered as a ORV. Once the vehicle is registered as in ORV, our ATV account or the account that we use to fund trail, maintenance and construction loses out on that registration fee. Combined that with a decreased number of registrations and it will not be long until our trails have no money for maintenance and no money for expansion or new construction. If we reach the point where maintenance lacks and the trails become unsafe to ride the land managers (counties, townships, state) will be forced to close these trails. Now before anybody freaks out, I am not saying we are closing any trails nor am I saying we cannot build new trails this is just something we need to be cognizant of moving forward. So I would like to put this post out here to see if there is support in increasing the weight limit or not.  Our sport is evolving, and if we don’t evolve our trails and our association to fit that we will fall behind even further. 
