Know Your Rights! California Red Sticker Issue: FAQs, Common Misconceptions & Your Right To Choose

The change in OHV registration in California, and the “sundowning” of the California Red Sticker program is continuing to take its toll on the dirt bike and off-road industry. As we navigate through the changes to emissions regulations and figure out the place for non-compliant dirt bikes, the questions and common misconceptions continue to arise. Here we go through a number of the most frequently asked questions I’ve received since putting out my first video. If you missed it, here it is:

California Red Sticker Registration for Dirt Bikes Going Away? The Entire Issue Explained
   • California Red Sticker Registration f...  

QUESTION 1:
Are current red-sticker riding seasons and areas still in place? If I have a current red-sticker bike (which will receive a green sticker in 2025), can I still ride it off-road?
ANSWER:
Yes, you can still ride in red-sticker areas. For those of us with 2021 and earlier models nothing will change until January 2025.
NOTE: Red Sticker Riding Seasons vary by location. Look up the red-sticker season calendar for your riding area below.

CARB Red Sticker OHV Riding Season Schedule
https://ohv.parks.ca.gov/pages/1234/f...

QUESTION 2:
Would not having any form of registration automatically forbid use of your OHV on California public lands?
ANSWER:
Yes. You do need to have some form of identification on your dirt bike in order to ride it on public lands. All enforcement agencies—BLM, Cal Parks, etc.—require some form of registration on your vehicle. The only exception is during a sanctioned and permitted event (i.e., an off-road race), in which case the public land is now closed course.

QUESTION 3:
What happened at the SB 227 hearing?
ANSWER:
In my previous video, I mentioned that SB 227, legislation by Sen. Brian Jones (R-38) with the help of AMA District 36, Don Amador and Dave Pickett, was up for a hearing before the Transportation Committee. It was heard the following Monday, and it passed. That was not the final pass-fail. It still has a ways to go. Last I checked (August 23, 2021), SB 227 was still in Appropriations.
If you have any further questions about the legislation, visit the Senator’s web page, or his Twitter . I am not a lawyer, and don’t want to attempt to speak to the language of the bill, so I’ll let the experts handle that.

SENATOR BRIAN JONES (R-38)
Website: https://jones.cssrc.us/
Twitter: @SenBrianJones

QUESTION 4:
If my bike is registered out-of-state, can I still ride in California? Does this new designation mean that I’m restricted, too?
ANSWER:
Short answer: nothing changes for out-of-state riders. You are only bound by the regulations of the state where you register your OHV. The same applies to cars. Out-of-state vehicles that might not have catalytic converters are still allowed to drive in California. Also, you are supposed to get a temporary out-of-state tag for your dirt bike while you're here.

COMMON MISCONCEPTION:
A number of people have told me, “It’s not actually model year 2022, it’s calendar year 2022. So you can buy a ‘22 dirt bike now and still get a red sticker.”
**FALSE!**
This rumor is being substantiated by a number of people still receiving red stickers for their new bikes, and this is because the dealers are still sending out for them, and the DMV is still delivering them—pretty much a bureaucratic bungle made by people who are still not clear on the change in the program. The letter of the law states it is absolutely MODEL YEAR 2022. The policy has no bearing on when you buy the bike.

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS!
“Why are we paying a government fee to pay into a program where we are no longer allowed to participate?”
Hard to argue with that logic. The good news here is that you are not required by California to register your competition OHV. And you actually never were. California Code, Vehicle Code - VEH § 38088 spells it all out.
I reached out to several California motorcycle dealers and asked them, if I wanted to buy a 2021 dirt bike and did NOT want registration, would you sell it to me? Not all of them said yes. One said they would only if I was paying cash, (to avoids issues with financing).
I still think there are valuable reasons to opt for registration, but there is an important issue of choice in this matter. If SB 227 passes, and we are now allowed to receive a competition registration sticker, just know that it is a CHOICE and not a requirement.
If your dealer needs to be educated in this matter (not uncommon…) refer them to California Vehicle Code VEH § 38088.

California Code, Vehicle Code - VEH § 38088
https://codes.findlaw.com/ca/vehicle-...

Thanks again for tuning in. Please like, share, comment, subscribe! There is a lot of misinformation out there, folks. Please help to get the correct info out there so we can clarify what’s happening and keep our industry moving forward.

Keep twisting the throttle!

~Kalamity Jean