571—46.25(321I) General rules for regulated vehicle operation in designated riding areas.

1. 46.25(1)  Allowable vehicles. Persons shall operate only the vehicles allowed at a designated riding area that is signed as open for the specified vehicle.
2. 46.25(2)  Compliance with signs. Persons at designated riding areas shall comply with all signs erected and maintained by the local sponsor or the department consistent with its relationship to the local sponsor under 571—46.53(321I).
3. 46.25(3)  Hours of operation. Designated riding areas shall be open from sunrise to sunset. There may be instances when operating regulated vehicles in dark conditions is permissible. In those instances, persons operating regulated vehicles between sunset and sunrise, or in otherwise dark conditions, in designated riding areas must have headlights and taillights equipped on their regulated vehicles and use such lights.
4. 46.25(4)  Registration required. A person shall not operate, maintain, or give permission for the operation or maintenance of a regulated vehicle in a designated riding area unless the regulated vehicle is registered and such registration is displayed in accordance with Iowa Code chapter 321I and these rules. This requirement includes nonresidents operating regulated vehicles in a designated riding area who are required to have nonresident user permits for their regulated vehicles.
5. 46.25(5)  Safety equipment required. All operators and their passengers shall wear helmets while operating a regulated vehicle on a designated riding area, including parking and unloading areas. The local sponsor, or the department consistent with its relationship to the local sponsor under 571—46.53(321I), may post signs that require operators to wear additional safety gear depending on conditions.
6. 46.25(6)  Working brakes. Every regulated vehicle operated in a designated riding area, including parking and unloading areas, shall be equipped with working brakes.

7. 46.25(7)  Minors—supervision. A person under 12 years of age shall not operate an all-terrain vehicle or an off-road motorcycle on a designated riding area unless one of the following applies:

   1. a. The person is taking an education training course, and the operation of the vehicle is under the direct supervision of a certified education instructor.
   2. b. The operation is under the direct supervision of a parent or guardian of at least 18 years of age who is experienced in all-terrain vehicle or off-road motorcycle operation and who possesses a valid driver’s license as defined in Iowa Code section 321.1.

Operation on designated riding areas is limited to regulated vehicles as defined in this chapter and as described below:

[ARC 9221C, IAB 5/14/25, effective 6/18/25]