The ATV culture includes loose regulations -- and kids' funerals
by Ray Ring          ATVs like the one Diezel De Rupp was on can
go as fast as 65 mph, weigh 500 pounds or more, and are
notoriously unstable, but regulations are just a step above
those for bicycles, even for kids. Most states set no minimum
age for being a passenger or for driving ATVs on private land.
While some states prohibit very young kids from operating ATVs
on public land, it's generally OK if someone older with a
driver's license provides "supervision." Utah is the only
Western state with an absolute minimum age -- 8 years old -- for
driving four-wheel ATVs on public lands. "They don't like any
laws against their great machines," says Rabe.  The industry's
ATV Safety Institute recommends relatively small machines for
kids, and some states have laws to enforce it. But many families
ignore the advice because the small ATVs have less pizzazz and
are quickly outgrown. Meanwhile, the industry's institute says
that a minimum age (12) should