By NICK YAMASHITA
Moapa Valley Progress
Moapa Valley residents cruised in their off-highway vehicles (OHV), or hauled them down to the Metro Overton Substation on Saturday, for a special OHV registration event sponsored by the Nevada Off-Highway Vehicles program..
Local Metro Officers Nate Bradshaw and Otto Foster, along with Sergeant Bret Empey, were on hand to perform VIN inspections on OHVs. Lora Hendrickson of the Nevada Off-Highway Vehicles Program and DMV was present to process OHV registrations on site.
The event ran from 9 a.m. until noon and made it a lot easier for residents of Moapa Valley to register their OHV’s. Traditionally, OHV owners must go to the Nevada Off-Highway Vehicles Program website at www.ohv.nv.gov/register, print off registration forms, get a VIN inspection done and mail all of the information and registration fee to the DMV. The DMV does not do OHV registrations on location.
“We realize that this is a lengthy and not easy process of registering,” Hendrickson said. “So we are doing events to help make the process easier for OHV enthusiasts.”
Hendrickson emphasized that the majority of the registration fees go back into grants and programs that make OHV-time more enjoyable, safe and fun for everyone.
The local police were also showing off their new OHV which was funded by one of these grant.
Former Moapa Valley resident Sue Baker, who is the Vice Chair of the State OHV Commission, made an appearance at the event. She explained that 15 percent of the registration fees is used for DMV staffing. But 85 percent is put back into grants and programs.
She pointed out that only an estimated 10 percent of OHVs are registered across the state. For residents the fees are relatively nominal at $21 for registration and $6 for duplicate.
Baker empathized about how the current registration process needs to be changed to be easier. She hopes providing events like this will help achieve that measure.
Baker was enthusiastic about upcoming events in Nevada for OHV owners. The Commission is looking into the Las Vegas Loop which, if approved, will be a 300-mile off-road trail that encircling the entire Las Vegas valley. This program has been in place since July 2012, which was about same time that Moapa Valley became OHV-friendly.
Aside from registering their off-road vehicles, residents were able to get free doughnuts, shirts and more at the event. Hendrickson said that the event was a huge success. Sixteen vehicles showed up for VIN inspection. This out-performed a similar event held in Mesquite earlier in the month.
Empey emphasized the fact that all off-highway vehicles need to be registered, especially dirt bikes (motorcycles). Citations are given for unregistered vehicles, he said.
Empey also stated they do have officers available to do VIN inspections. OHV owners can call the local police station at (702) 397-2186 to schedule an inspection or to seek more information.
