State laws differ so the find and penalties attached to driving a four wheeler on a public roadway will vary. To find out what your state laws are in regards to where a four wheeler can be operated and what penalties are associated with this offense contact your state's Department of Motor Vehicles.

For example according to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) a violation of the TX ATV laws is a Class C misdemeanor with fines up to $200. The penalties can be stiffer if you are found driving your four wheeler or ATV on land that you have trespassed on. In Texas the penalties for trespassing can be severe and result in fines up to $4,000 and jail time up to one year. Trespassing can include entering a posted area; and area noting crop for harvest; a fenced area; or remaining after being asked to leave.

The Vermont All-Terrain Vehicle Operator Manual notes that in VT an ATV can operate on a highway or road if the following conditions exist:

• On a road that is not plowed or maintained during the snow season.
• A road that has been open to ATVs by a board or local governing body and is so posted by the municipality.

Also ATVs can cross public roadways if the driver crosses at a 90 degree angle to the direction of the highway and at a place where no obstruction prevents a safe and quick crossing.

The VT all-terrain manual lists the penalty for violating VT ATV laws as a fine of not more than $300 for each offense a person is cited for. In addition the commissioner may suspend or revoke the registration of an all terrain vehicle involved in a violation. This includes operating an ATV on a public roadway which ATVs are prohibited from driving on.

Other state penalties for four wheeler include a violation of ATV and off-highway vehicle use regulations in Minnesota is a misdemeanor, with a possible penalty of 90 days in jail and up to $1,000 in fines. Violating the ATV law in Wisconsin results in a fine up to $250; not having the required nonresident trail pass can result in a $1,000 fine.

We reiterate that each state has their own laws and regulations for ATVs (four wheelers) so you should contact your DMV to find out penalties for driving a 4-wheeler on a public roadway. The local DMV may also have an ATV handbook that you can read to find out the specific rules of the road and penalties for violating them in your four wheeler.