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Are side-by-sides street legal in New York?

New York's law on side-by-sides and ATVs on public roads, quoted from its own page, with the conditions, equipment and plate rule.

The law in New York

Side-by-side (UTV): Only where it is allowed locally. In New York, a side-by-side may use a public road only where a city, county or road authority opens it.
This covers a side-by-side only at 70 inches wide or less and 1,000 pounds dry or less, and most are heavier. We found no road route for a heavier one.
"1. Highways. No person shall operate an ATV on a highway except as provided herein. ... (b) An ATV may be operated on any highway which has been designated and posted as open for travel by ATVs in accordance with the provisions of section twenty-four hundred five of this article."
ATV (quad): Only where it is allowed locally. In New York, an ATV may use a public road only where a city, county or road authority opens it.
"1. Highways. No person shall operate an ATV on a highway except as provided herein. ... (b) An ATV may be operated on any highway which has been designated and posted as open for travel by ATVs in accordance with the provisions of section twenty-four hundred five of this article."

New York Vehicle and Traffic Law 2403: Operation of ATVs; where permitted, checked November 2026.

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Side-by-side (UTV) · New York

Where locally allowed

Only where it is allowed locally. In New York, a side-by-side may use a public road only where a city, county or road authority opens it.

This covers a side-by-side only at 70 inches wide or less and 1,000 pounds dry or less, and most are heavier. We found no road route for a heavier one.

"1. Highways. No person shall operate an ATV on a highway except as provided herein. ... (b) An ATV may be operated on any highway which has been designated and posted as open for travel by ATVs in accordance with the provisions of section twenty-four hundred five of this article."

Conditions

"providing that such vehicle does not exceed seventy inches in width, or one thousand pounds dry weight."
"Except with respect to interstate highways or controlled access highways, the department of transportation with respect to state highways, maintained by the state and any other governmental agency with respect to highways, including bridge and culvert crossings, under its jurisdiction may designate and post any such public highway or portion thereof as open for travel by ATVs when in the determination of the governmental agency concerned, it is otherwise impossible for ATVs to gain access to areas or trails adjacent to the highway."
"You cannot operate an ATV on a public highway unless the highway has been designated and posted for ATV use (usually a short distance between off-road trails)."
"(a) An ATV may make a direct crossing on a highway other than an interstate highway or a controlled access highway, provided:"

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Street legal UTV questions

Only where it is allowed locally. In New York, a side-by-side may use a public road only where a city, county or road authority opens it. This covers a side-by-side only at 70 inches wide or less and 1,000 pounds dry or less, and most are heavier. We found no road route for a heavier one. Source: New York Vehicle and Traffic Law 2403: Operation of ATVs; where permitted.

Only where it is allowed locally. In New York, an ATV may use a public road only where a city, county or road authority opens it. Source: New York Vehicle and Traffic Law 2403: Operation of ATVs; where permitted.

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