Required Equipment

Before an ATV, ORM, and side-by-side may be operated on public lands in Oregon, the vehicle and its riders must have the required equipment.

• Helmet: All operators and passengers under 18 years of age must wear a properly fitted helmet with the chin strap fastened securely. The helmet must be designed for motorized vehicle use and have a safety-approved label from the Department of Transportation (DOT). Since a properly fitting, safety-approved helmet is the most important safety gear for an off-road rider or passenger, all riders should wear helmets.
• Safety Goggles: All operators and passengers should wear securely fastened safety goggles. When it is bright during the day, orange or yellow lenses make terrain and potential hazards more visible, especially when riding on sand dunes. Do not wear tinted lenses at night.
• Spark Arrestor: All ORVs with an internal combustion engine must have a U.S. Forest Service–approved spark arrestor that is in good working condition if operating on public lands in Oregon.
• Lights: All ORVs must display working headlights and taillights from one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour after sunrise.
  • Class I ATVs (quads and 3-wheelers) and Class III ATVs (ORMs) must have at least one headlight and one taillight.
  • Lights also should be used when operating on dark forest trails and roads, even during the day.
• Fire Extinguisher: Class II ATVs (includes Jeeps, SUVs, and sand rails) and Class IV ATVs (side-by-sides) must be equipped with an approved dry chemical-type fire extinguisher that has at least 2 lbs. capacity. Class I ATVs and ORMs are excluded from the fire extinguisher requirement.
• Safety Flag: When operating an ATV, ORM, or side-by-side on sand or in dune areas—including Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area, Sand Lake, and Christmas Valley—you must display a red or orange flag that is at least 8 x 12 inches in size. The flag must be displayed 9 feet above the ground on the ORV.