Benton County, WA Mobility & Curb Rules: Bike Lane Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- BCC 10.14.100(c)
- Applies to
- Unincorporated Benton County roads, excluding Hanford
- Penalty
- Up to $250 traffic infraction plus assessments
- Adopted by
- Ordinance 626 (2020)
- Also banned
- WATVs on sidewalks, park trails, walking paths
- Charging option
- Criminal conduct charged at state-law penalty instead
Summary
Benton County bans wheeled all-terrain vehicles from bicycle lanes, bike paths and walking paths on unincorporated county roads. Benton County Code 10.14.100(c) makes it unlawful for a WATV operator to enter a bicycle lane, protecting the space cyclists rely on. The prohibition sits inside the county's 2020 WATV ordinance, which also bars WATVs from sidewalks and road shoulders outside Hanford.
10.14.100 PROHIBITED AREAS.
(a) It is unlawful to operate a wheeled all-terrain vehicle on a sidewalk, on the road shoulder or any other area where it is unlawful to operate a motor vehicle.
(b) Except for use by county maintenance staff, it is unlawful to operate a wheeled all-terrain vehicle on any county park trail, path, walkway, etc other than in areas designated for motor vehicle operation.
(c) It is unlawful to operate a wheeled all-terrain vehicle on any bicycle or walking path or in a bicycle lane. [Ord. 626 (2020) § 10]
Full Breakdown
Chapter 10.14 of the Benton County Code, adopted by Ordinance 626 in 2020, regulates wheeled all-terrain vehicles (WATVs) operating on county roads in unincorporated Benton County. BCC 10.14.020 limits the chapter to unincorporated areas, expressly excluding the Hanford Nuclear Reservation. Section 10.14.100, titled "Prohibited Areas," lists three bans: subsection (a) bars WATVs from sidewalks, road shoulders, or any area where operating a motor vehicle is unlawful; subsection (b) bars WATVs from county park trails, paths and walkways except for designated motor-vehicle areas or county maintenance staff; and subsection (c), the bike-lane provision, states it is unlawful to operate a WATV "on any bicycle or walking path or in a bicycle lane." The chapter defines a WATV under BCC 10.14.030(f) by reference to RCW 46.09.310, and defines "county road" as any road in unincorporated Benton County maintained by the county, excluding Hanford roads.
WATV riders otherwise permitted on county roads with speed limits of 35 mph or lower under BCC 10.14.040 must still stay out of bicycle lanes under 10.14.100(c) regardless of the road's speed limit or the rider's age or license status. The bike-lane ban applies alongside the chapter's other WATV rules: a valid driver's license and minimum age of 18 to operate on a road (10.14.040), a securely fastened helmet (10.14.050(a)), and compliance with RCW 46.09 registration and RCW 46.29.090 insurance requirements. Emergency management, search-and-rescue, and law-enforcement vehicles operating within their official duties are exempt from the chapter's restrictions under 10.14.050(d).
Violations & Fines
Under BCC 10.14.110, any violation of Chapter 10.14, including riding a WATV in a bicycle lane under 10.14.100(c), is a traffic infraction punishable by a monetary penalty of up to $250, exclusive of statutory assessments that Washington courts add to infractions. If the same conduct also amounts to a criminal offense under separate state law, the county can charge it as such and pursue the maximum penalty allowed for that offense, not just the $250 infraction cap.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I ride a wheeled ATV in a bike lane in Benton County?
What's the fine for driving a WATV in a bicycle lane?
Does the bicycle lane ban apply inside Kennewick or Richland?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Benton County
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