- Off-road vehicle registrations to go online, making it easier for users
- Riders will benefit from an efficient and modern registration system
- Increased penalties up to $5,000 to deter illegal activity and anti-social behaviour
New laws to enable off-road vehicles (ORVs) registrations to be completed online has been introduced to Parliament, as the Cook Government goes full throttle on reform.
The Control of Vehicles (Off-road Areas) Amendment Bill 2024 updates legislation from the 1970s to make it easier for riders to register their vehicles, allows for registration stickers as an alternative to ORV registration plates, and increases penalties for existing offences.
ORVs include trail bikes, quad bikes, all-terrain vehicles and golf carts, and must be registered to be ridden on ORV areas. Registration funds are reinvested into ORV areas.
Western Australian ORV owners are currently required to attend in person at a Department of Transport licensing centre to register a new ORV or renew an existing registration.
The proposed changes remove this outdated and unnecessary requirement, so ORV owners can register online as soon as the new system is set up.
This reform is expected to improve the funding available to support local governments to build, upgrade, and maintain ORV areas.
The Bill also increases penalties, from $1,000 to $5,000 maximum, for existing offences such as riding in a prohibited area, riding dangerously or riding an unregistered ORV, which can damage the surrounding environment.
As stated by Local Government Minister Hannah Beazley:
"Western Australians love being outdoors, with more enjoying what our great State has to offer as off-road vehicle users.
"This legislation is another step forward in the Cook Government's ongoing work to support safe, legal and environmentally conscious off-road vehicle riding.
"Our Government recently secured the future of the popular Pinjar ORV area, as part of the decision to end pine harvesting in the Gnangara State Forest, which will support the endangered black cockatoo.
"Local governments, such as the Shire of York, do great work in providing high-quality ORV areas.
"Thank you to the Off-Road Vehicles Advisory Committee and the Recreational Trailbike Riders Association of WA for their advocacy and work to support off-road riding in Western Australia."
