Highway 200: Summer Travel

With the warmer weather upon us, Lincoln is already experiencing the influx of returning guests and tourists to town for vacation and weekend events. Along with this comes the increased travel on Highway 200 and the increased presence of off-road vehicles and pedestrian traffic. While the center of town is considered Main Street to locals, it is no less a state highway and so the laws apply the same way at the intersection of Stemple Pass Road as they do on top of Roger's Pass. This is a guide to the laws on the ways of the state open to the public that will be enforced in Lincoln as prescribed by Montana law as it is enforced everywhere else in the state. Ask around and you may get many opinions on what the laws are but these are often incorrect or inaccurate. This article was created to remedy that. Consult the Montana Code Annotated for further explanation of the laws which I have cited throughout this article.

A few things to consider when understanding motor vehicle law are the parameters the state has set forth with definitions. The biggest definition most people do not understand is the term 'highway' (MCA 61-1-101 Definitions). The highway extends from boundary to boundary, and in Lincoln that includes the shoulder from parking lot to parking lot. The fog line differentiates the lanes from the shoulder. The entire paved portion is the highway, especially the very wide shoulder on each side of the road as it is improved and maintained by the State. Outside of town this boundary-to-boundary terminology means from fence to fence and everything in between. To answer the lingering question, yes, the laws apply on this entire area considered the 'highway'. Do not rely on hearsay to protect you from open container laws, DUIs, and intoxicated pedestrian charges. Ignorance of the law will not protect you from it and it is everyone's responsibility to be well informed.

The biggest increase in traffic during the summer is foot traffic. Pedestrians are everywhere on the weekends. What's worse is they are in large groups, distracted, inattentive, and sometimes intoxicated. Without dedicated crosswalks, people mill about on the shoulder, in the road, and block vehicles in parking lots and on the highway. When they do cross the road, it is many times without regard for vehicles driving toward them or their children running around them. Without a crosswalk, the motor vehicle has the right of way (MCA 61-8-503). Until new crosswalks are created by the Department of Transportation, temporary crosswalks will be designated for special events this summer. Do not loiter around the fog line, walk into moving vehicle traffic, or stand in the road talking or taking photographs.

The use of off-road vehicles such as quadricycles (ATVs and Side-by-Sides) and motorcycles are prominent too. Golf Carts are low-speed electric vehicles and are not registered vehicles for highway use. This means golf carts will not be driven on the road, the shoulder, or cross a road with a speed greater than 25 mph (MCA 61-8-378). If they are altered to meet all the conditions of MCA 61-9 and registered properly, they can then meet motor vehicle requirements but I have yet to see this done. Quadricycles must be registered with unobstructed license plates to drive on the highway. In that case, they must be operated like a regular motor vehicle. Again, all the same laws apply to quadricycles as to cars and trucks as these are considered motor vehicles.

Wear your seatbelts, be safe, and be respectful to others on and off the road. Enjoy your summer and all Lincoln has to offer.