PHOENIX - State senators voted Tuesday to require owners of off-road vehicles to pay a new fee for the privilege of operatin them anywhere on public lands or roads.

HB 2443 would require off-road vehicles, all-terrain vehicles an off-road recreational vehicles to have a license issued by th state Department of Transportation. That would include "dir bikes.''

The fee would be set by the agency but is expected to cost n more than $25 a year, a figure legislative staffers estimat would bring in $6.8 million a year once fully implemented in 2009.

HB 2443 also would require those younger than 18 to have headgear that is both properly fitted and fastened.

All vehicles would need to have mufflers, spark arrestors and, when operated on sand dunes, flags. And those operated fro twilight to sun-up also would need headlights and tail lights.

The legislation also would make it a crime, punishable by 30 days in jail and a $500 fine, to drive off a marked trial in a wa that damages wildlife habitat or natural resources.

But the big debate Tuesday was over the fees.

State law already requires any vehicle operated on a public road to have a state-issued license. But Rep. Jerry Weiers, R-Glendale, said some people buy the vehicles and don't get them licensed - or pay other state taxes - arguing they are no driving on public roads.

That results in less money in the state treasury, funds share with the state Parks and state Game and Fish departments.

Sen. Ron Gould, R-Lake Havasu City, said the legislation woul shift the burden of trail maintenance and other activities to young people, the ones with the smaller off-road vehicles which now are not licensed. And he warned Republican colleagues that is the wrong message to be sending to the state's newest voters.

"If you want to build a party, I would suggest that we don't offend people that might be willing to join our party,'' Gould said. He said the legislation goes against GOP goals of les government and taxes "even though it has a Republican sponsor.'

But Sen. Meg Burton Cahill, D-Tempe, said not everyone believes there is no responsibility to help pay for the programs administered by state agencies which maintain trails as well as police the rural areas to ensure that riders don't destroy habitat.

"We taught our son that there are costs to things in life,'' said

Burton Cahill, who purchased an all-terrain vehicle for her son.

She said he believes that the parks where he rides should be

maintained.

Sen. Robert Blendu, R-Litchfield Park, was not convinced of the

need to raise more money. He said many of these vehicles are

operated on property operated by the U.S. Forest Service, which

has its own fees for users.

"This is just a tax that doesn't need to be,'' he said.

But Sen. Tom O'Halleran, R-Sedona, said various groups that are

involved with off-road activities are in support of the bill.

The measure exempts vehicles ridden only on private property. And

lawmakers also altered the measure to spell out that the special

plates are not required for off-road vehicles operated on Indian

lands.

A final Senate vote is needed before the measure returns to the

House, which adopted a somewhat different version of the bill.

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