I got pulled over coming back from a hunt once by a young local cop. I had a rack sticking out of the top of a cooler that I had the head in. It wouldn't fit, so it was easily seen.



The cop came up to me and said, "You weren't doing anything wrong, I just wanted to have a look at that deer you had in the back!" He was a deer hunter too. He checked it out and we B.S.ed for a few minutes. He the said, "Well, I gotta go. Congratulations!" He never even asked to see my drivers license.

Texretvet is 100% correct. Law enforcement are NOT your friends. By trying to be friendly you set yourself up for a bust. Never volunteer or answer any questions from any authority.

Sounds like some of our THF'ers often times have something illegal in their vehicle...

If trying to check for ownership of atv's brings only a handful of meth heads and criminals that stole from good people and fellow hunters to justice or at least punishes them a little then I'm ok with it.

I have been nothing but truthful with every cop that has ever pulled me over, ive never had trouble with one, never been arrested and only gotten a very few tickets for the number of times ive been pulled over. Never met a cop in person that pulled me over I didn't think was an alright guy just doing his job. Some of yal are just a little too scared of the govt.

Exactly^

Really? Ugh...

Really? Ugh... what? You want the cops to protect you but you wont give them the means to do so.

How do you check ownership of an ATV? They aren't required to be registered, or it could be from out of state and no one is going to carry paperwork everytime they transport it. So now what? You can't prove you own something that you legally do. What is going to happen?

Aren't atv/utv's titled? Same thing with boat motors, like it says on the parks and wildlife site DO NOT BUY A MOTOR/MOTOR WITHOUT CLEAR TITLE. You shouldn't buy an atv that you cant get clear title to.

Some are, some aren't. Same thing with UTVs. Boats/motors and trailers are required to be registered if they are going to be used on public water, not if they are being used on private lakes. ATV's aren't required to be registered if you are using them on private land (which most of us are), nor is there a requirement to have a title when purchasing. My point is, unless they can prove it is stolen then you should have no obligation to be able to prove it is yours. More importantly (and this is why I posed the question), you shouldn't have to carry documentation that you own something that is riding in the back of your truck. That to me is no different than getting questioned and asking to prove you own the firearms you are in possession of, or your coolers, feeders, etc.

Please explain, which ones are and which ones aren't titled?

Do All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) need to be registered at the county tax assessors/collectors office before being used at OHV venues located on the public lands of Texas?

No, ATV registration is no longer required in Texas. Under the provisions of HB3849, TxDOT would no longer register all-terrain vehicles (ATV) for off-highway use; and the $6 registration fee and $6 ATV safety fee would no longer be collected. Titles for ATVs and Motorcycles can still be obtained at your local county tax assessor/collectors office.

Do ATVs used at OHV venues located on the public lands of Texas need a Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) registration decal?

No, ATV registration is not longer required in Texas and therefore, the TxDOT ATV registration decal is no longer required. Under the provisions of HB3849, TxDOT would no longer register all-terrain vehicles (ATV) for off-highway use; and the $6 registration fee and $6 ATV safety fee would no longer be collected.

It would seem if they're financed they'd be titled.

An older one prior to 1985 was not required to be titled in Texas

Maybe it's just because I'm older now, but I no longer get all upset over stuff like this. Dealing with LEO's is just like dealing with anyone else. If you go into the interaction expecting trouble, you're more likely to find trouble. A classic example of self fulfilling prophecy.

When I was younger, if anyone gave me the slightest amount of grief, I was ready to bow up and defend my own pride. It didn't matter who it was, bosses, teachers, cops, friends, even my own father. As a result, I had a lot of ugly confrontations, physical and otherwise. I look back on those days now, and I'm embarrassed and ashamed.

I've now learned the beauty of letting s#!t slide. I'm not saying you should let folks walk all over you, but it's silly to escalate a minor situation like a cop wanting to make sure something isn't stolen by going into the interaction with a bad attitude.

If you are getting verbally or physically abused though, that's a different story.

That's why I can't understand your position, rex. It doesn't matter if the ATV has to be registered, titled or not. If an ATV's owner reports the vehicle stolen, it's VIN (serial number) is what will be entered in TCIC/NCIC. And that's what the LEOs will be checking it against. If you're not hauling a stolen vehicle, then don't worry about it. If you are hauling a stolen vehicle, you better be able to prove ownership.

As for the OP, a "speed check" is bs. It would have pizzed me off, but I'm not going to debate it on the side of the road with a guy working traffic. I'm going to be speaking to his supervisor and the county DA after the fact.

Every think they might just ask you for proof of ownership because its easier than digging through the caked on mud to find a vin.