Providence OHV enthusiast pleased with new law

By G. Christopher

December 10, 2008 | PROVIDENCE -- Jim Beazer, an Off-Highway Vehicle hobbyist, said he is pleased with Providence's new law allowing the operation of OHVs on city streets, and has not witnessed the new law being abused.

Under Providence's liberalized OHV regulations, a child who has passed a safety course and has a permit, and is under direct supervision of an adult, may ride an OHV on most streets in Providence.

This practice "allows people to recreate with their kids without getting a trailer," said Beazer, who owns seven OHVs. "I have not seen any rampant people flying around on four-wheelers," he added.

According to Beazer, driving OHVs on Providence city streets is "what we did as kids growing up, although it was illegal then."

The legalization of OHV operation on city streets represents a tacit admission by the city council and mayor that OHVs were being driven within city limits.

"It was being done cautiously and they wanted it to become legal," Beazer said. "I'm just guessing that."

The ability to drive OHVs directly from home to a recreation spot such as Providence Canyon saves Beazer a great deal of time. He said that, depending on how many individuals were going, the process of loading, finding parking, and unloading "could easily eat an hour up."

OHVs were legalized for use on Providence city streets in September. The public hearing on the issue was well-attended by OHV users who vocally supported the new law.

"We have a small town," Beazer said. "It wouldn't work in Logan."

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