is there anything wrong with wheeling in powerline easements?

 

I have done it for years. There is always a road through them. No one has ever kicked me off.

 

In my town we have a lot of powerlines with old dirtroads crossing through them. One near my house is impossible to pass by car and difficult for a stock xj. I use them all the time to get to another road in better time than using the main road. Never gotten told off or ticketed. Does for some good wheelin too.

I think you're talking about roads that cross through powerlines right?

 

Down here TVA keeps a close eye on their equipment and access roads.

 

I think he means something like this where the power company keeps a certain area along the powerline pathway clear for maintenance access. I have seen pics on other sites where people have created trails along the easement for wheeling. It would be wise to contact the local power company for permission under any circumstance. Although the easements are not private citizens property, the powerline pathways may cross private land.

 

Just did a little research on TVA's website (Tennessee Valley Authority) and it is posted that all TVA managed lands are strictly prohibited to any and all ATV and OHV use. Now that does necessarily include powerline easements. By their defintion, TVA managed land includes streams, rivers, riverbeds, lakes, resevoirs, and all easements to these waterways. So check with local authorities before you take the chance and get ticketed or arrested.

 

One of the other properties we've got abuts TVA land on Douglas Lake near Douglas Dam and TVA Authority personnel are always riding around in their white Cherokee's stopping people. (Terrorism, because of the Dam?)

 

Excelon will have you arrested if you are on their easements and are caught. I know one person in particular that had his truck and ATV impounded for it. Took quite awhile to get them back also.

 

Every state is different. Here in MI unless it's a posted trail all trails near power lines are illegal.

Like I said each state is different when it comes to there laws..

 

Here in CT, and I'm sure it's the same in most states, these paths are usually blocked off. People make trails around then most of the time, so I'm sure it's illegal when blocked off. Unfortunately, most of the land under the lines are private property so I would never even bother, not to mention I probably couldn't fit my jeep down some of the small ATV trails.(Which is what the trails are mostly used for here)

If it's blocked off, I wouldn't ever try it. Even if their was a path around.

Edit: My town likes to let people know what's legal and not, so they mark all property that is owned by them and open to the public. Most of the land is woods/powerlines/fields designated as "open space".

 

It is NOT LEGAL to ride power line roads in GA. You will be fined and your vehicle taken away.
The only legal way to be on the roads, (to get around NOT TO RIDE), is if you have written permission from the owner and only if the owner is using the land for hunting and leasing it out as such.
If the owner's land is under/near the power lines the power co. leases easement from the owner. That easment gives the power co. the right to say who is allowed.
The idea is that offroaders will create ruts making it difficult for the power co. to get to the lines.
Thats how it is here.
And on many boards any talk or pics of ILLEGAL riding are not allowed.

 

As it is on this board. It is good that the original poster is asking the legality of it.


I am not sure in Oklahoma though. I would like to find out. There is one area that may be a nice ride though I dont believe it goes all the way through. The area around here is mostly flat or "rolling" plains. There arent any trails around here due to this.

 

where i live in ma is it illigal i think you only get fined from my understanding. cops dont pay to much attention to it though loads of trails along the powerlines huge mud puddles and crazy ruts youll find ppl out there all the time

 

yup its illegal here in ri too. its private property but generally they dont care about trucks. they dont want atvs and dirt bikes tearing it all up. at least thats what my friend told me and hes a cop in a town that has really good power line trails.

 

I think the primary thing to remember when wheeling anywhere is to first if it is private land ask the owner for permission, govt owned land check local laws,rules and regs covering the land ie DOT would be a good starting point. Next in areas such as the original post is about is to contact the governing authority and make sure of the legality of wheeling where you want to wheel. Bottom line if you do not have permission to be there do not go and do not discuss it here. When wheeling you need to use some basic common sense if you can't do that then you need to sell you rig now.