Riverside Municipal Code Ch. 9.32 Off-Road Use of Motor Vehicles

This chapter is designed to regulate the operation of registered and unregistered motorcycles and motor-driven cycles by all persons, whether they possess a valid California Motor Vehicles operator's license or not, upon unimproved private property and upon all public property except highways, in the City; and to prohibit any motor vehicles on unimproved private property or unimproved public property without written permission of the owner thereof subject to certain specific exceptions.

(Ord. 5320 § 2, 1985; Ord. 3802 § 1 (part), 1971; Ord. 3777 § 1 (part), 1970)

Unless it is apparent from the context that another meaning is intended, the following words and phrases when used herein shall have the meaning ascribed to them by this section:

Highway means a way or place of whatever nature, publicly maintained and open to the use of the public for purposes of vehicular travel. "Highway" includes street.

Mini-bike means any motorcycle with a motor which produces not more than seven horsepower, with a maximum outside wheel height of 21 inches, and which has an exhaust system equipped with a muffler as defined by the California Vehicle Code and a spark arrester as defined in Section 4442 of the California Public Resources Code.

Motorcycle means any motor vehicle other than a tractor having a seat or saddle for the use of the rider and designated to travel on not more than three wheels in contact with the ground and weighing less than 1,500 pounds.

Motor-driven cycle means any motorcycle, including every motor scooter, with a motor which produces not to exceed 15 gross brake horsepower, and every bicycle with motor attached.

Unimproved private property means any parcel of land which either contains no structures or which is not surfaced with cement, concrete, asphaltic concrete, or other similar material, or which does not have a hard surface made up of a mixture of rock, sand or gravel bound together with a chemical or mineral substance other than natural soil.

Unimproved public property means any parcel of land owned by a public entity which either contains no structures or which is not surfaced with cement, concrete, asphaltic concrete, or other similar material, or which does not have a hard surface made up of a mixture of rock, sand or gravel bound together with a chemical or mineral substance other than natural soil.

(Ord. 5320 § 3, 1985; Ord. 3834 § 1, 1971; Ord. 3802 § 1 (part), 1971; Ord. 3777 § 1 (part), 1970)

A. No person shall drive a motor vehicle on any unimproved private property belonging to or occupied by another or upon any unimproved public property without having in his or her immediate possession and, upon request of a peace officer, displaying written permission to be on such lands from the owner thereof, from the owner's agent, or from the person in lawful possession thereof; but this subsection shall not apply to a person having lawful business with the owner.

B. No person shall park a motor vehicle on any unimproved private property belonging to or occupied by another or upon any unimproved public property without displaying in such a manner as to be seen through the front windshield by any person outside of such vehicle, written permission to be on such lands from the owner thereof, from the owner's agent, or from the person in lawful possession; but this subsection shall not apply to a person having lawful business with the owner.

C. No person shall operate a motorcycle or motor- driven cycle other than a publicly owned motorcycle or motor-driven cycle, upon any public or recreational area or upon any other publicly owned property, except highways, within the City. This shall not be construed to prohibit the operation of a motorcycle or motor-driven cycle having a valid California vehicle registration by any person possessing a valid California operator's license upon the public highways in the City.

D. In addition to the requirements of subsections A and B of this section, no person shall operate a motorcycle or motor-driven cycle, other than a publicly owned motorcycle or motor-driven cycle, upon any unimproved private property within the City.

(Ord. 7362 § 2, 2017; Ord. 5320 § 4, 1985; Ord. 3802 § 1 (part), 1971; Ord. 3777 § 1 (part), 1970)

Any person violating any of the provisions of this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

(Ord. 3802 § 1 (part), 1971; Ord. 3777 § 1 (part), 1970)

If any section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase of this chapter is for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional by the decision of any court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of the chapter. The City Council declares that it would have passed this ordinance, and each section, subsection, clause or phrase thereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or more other sections, subsections, clauses or phrases may be declared invalid or unconstitutional.

(Ord. 3802 § 1 (part), 1971; Ord. 3777 § 1 (part), 1970)

A. The provisions of this chapter shall not apply on public or private lands expressly set apart for the use of motor vehicles by or with the permission of the owner of such lands pursuant to any zoning permit or other permit or licensing procedure authorized by law.

B. The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to the use of farm vehicles for agricultural purposes, vehicles being used for grading or construction purposes, vehicles being used for governmental purposes, or golf carts being used on golf courses.

C. The provisions of this chapter shall not apply upon any public highway, street, road or alley within the City.

(Ord. 7362 § 2, 2017; Ord. 5320 § 7, 1985; Ord. 3834 § 2, 1971; Ord. 3802 § 1 (part), 1971; Ord. 3796 § 1, 1971; Ord. 3777 § 1 (part), 1970)