This self proclaimed law enforcement professional of only 10 year, thinks he's a lawyer and/or expert on constitutional law! Law enforcement enforces the law, they are not on the job to interpret it. We leave that for the Judges.
Our team watched this video, and while I respect everyone’s right to their opinion, there are several important facts that are being overlooked.
First, nobody is claiming that New Jersey itself will register a side-by-side as a street-legal vehicle. In fact, New Jersey generally does not offer a pathway for a resident to register most side-by-sides directly through the New Jersey MVC. The real question is whether New Jersey must recognize a vehicle that has already been lawfully titled, registered, plated, and insured by another state.
Second, Montana law specifically recognizes and registers street-legal quadricycles. These vehicles receive Montana titles, registrations, and license plates issued by the Montana Motor Vehicle Division. Montana even provides permanent registration for street-legal quadricycles. (MT Motor Vehicle Division (https://mvdmt.gov/vehicle-registration/motorcycle-and-quadricycle-registration-and-fees/?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
Third, courts do not decide these cases based on personal opinions. They decide them based on statutes and evidence.
One of the most significant cases occurred in Ocean County, New Jersey. In State v. Vassallo, the Ocean County Prosecutor appealed after the defendant prevailed in the Law Division. The New Jersey Appellate Division ultimately affirmed the lower court’s ruling. The State had every opportunity to convince the appellate court that its position was correct and did not succeed. (Justia (https://law.justia.com/cases/new-jersey/appellate-division-unpublished/2025/a-2416-23.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
That’s important because this was not a municipal court decision that simply went unchallenged. The prosecutor appealed and still lost. (Justia (https://law.justia.com/cases/new-jersey/appellate-division-unpublished/2025/a-2416-23.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
Fourth, many people continue referring to every side-by-side as an ATV. Legally, that is not always correct. Modern quadricycles and side-by-sides often have vehicle specifications, equipment, and classifications that differ substantially from traditional ATVs. Courts across multiple states have increasingly focused on the actual statutory definition of the vehicle rather than assumptions based on appearance alone. (Justia (https://law.justia.com/cases/new-jersey/appellate-division-unpublished/2025/a-2416-23.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
Fifth, reciprocity matters. The United States has long recognized the validity of vehicle registrations issued by sister states. If a vehicle is legally titled and registered in Montana, that registration carries legal significance and cannot simply be ignored because another state would have handled the registration differently.
Finally, no one should suggest that every case will always have the same outcome. Different facts, different vehicle configurations, different charges, and different courts can lead to different results. However, what we can say is that Montana-registered quadricycles have successfully defended citations in multiple jurisdictions, including significant victories in New Jersey, and prosecutors have not always prevailed when challenging those registrations. (Justia (https://law.justia.com/cases/new-jersey/appellate-division-unpublished/2025/a-2416-23.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
The bottom line is simple:
A Montana-registered quadricycle is not an unregistered ATV. It is a vehicle that has been titled, registered, plated, and insured under the laws of the State of Montana. Anyone discussing these cases should be careful not to oversimplify a legal issue that courts themselves have repeatedly had to analyze in detail.
