COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) - Branch County might like to adopt a county off road vehicle ordinance to regulate the vehicles and possibly raise much needed revenue but under current state law, there are a couple of dozen counties in the state like Branch that aren’t allowed to have such an ordinance on the books. However, that could change if a proposed measure now working its way through the Michigan legislature becomes law. Right now, basically only those counties north of Lansing can have the local regulations for off road vehicles.

Branch County Commissioner Dale Swift last week was in Lansing to testify on the proposed O-R-V bill, appearing before the House Tourism Committee. Swift said it might not work in Oakland or Wayne County but more rural counties like Branch would at least have the opportunity to say yes or no if they wanted such a law. Swift said the county should eventually be taking a look at a possible fee schedule or fines in case the bill eventually gains final approval. The measure specifically states that any revenue gained from an ORV ordinance would have to be split 50/50 between the sheriff’s department and the road commission and according to Swift, those are two departments locally that desperately need any funding they can get.