MADISON, Wis. – Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) conservation wardens and county sheriff deputies teamed up to support safe enjoyment of recreational vehicles during the fifth-annual Think Smart Before You Start ATV/UTV education and enforcement campaign held over Labor Day weekend.
The officers interacted with more than 1,600 operators and riders, discussing important operation guidelines and easy-to-follow safety regulations. While the officers conducted necessary arrests for those operating while intoxicated, hundreds of educational warnings were also issued to stress the role of safety.
There have been 34 fatal UTV/ATV crashes in Wisconsin in 2025. Most of them were not wearing seatbelts or helmets, and alcohol and speed were also contributing factors.
“Crash and injury data show all riders need to wear helmets and seatbelts. They truly do save lives,” said Lt. Jake Holsclaw, Wisconsin DNR off-highway vehicle administrator. “Along with these two easy-to-use safety tools, we want to make sure all users of the trail and route systems are safe by removing intoxicated operators.”
The top three citations of the Labor Day campaign – as well as year-round – involved lack of helmet wear, non-use of seatbelts and illegal highway operation.
To operate safely, ATV and UTV operators can take an online safety course. A list of approved safety education classes is available on the DNR Safety Education webpage.
Wisconsin law requires every operator involved in a crash to report the incident without delay to law enforcement officials. In addition, within 10 days of the incident, the operator must submit a written report to the DNR.
For more information on ATV and UTV recreation in Wisconsin, visit the DNR’s ATV/UTV riding in Wisconsin webpage.
