Over the next few weeks, members of the Christian County Fiscal Court will take time to review several considerations regarding the allowance of properly licensed owners using high-speed UTV’s, golf carts and other side-by-sides on the county’s roadways.
This conversation escalated positively during Tuesday morning’s meeting, in which resident Jason Hale spoke on behalf of a large Facebook group called “Christian County For Side-By-Side Legalization,” where more than 350 county citizens have rallied toward this effort.
Hale said he, and several others, have had numerous effective conversations with Hopkinsville Police Chief Jason Newby, Christian County Sheriff Tyler DeArmond, Emergency Management Director Randy Graham, Hopkinsville Fire Chief Steve Futrell — as well as Trigg County Treasurer Lucy Kyler — about local laws, regulations and possible permitting revenues for the community.
And Trigg County, specifically, has made it work.
Magistrates Phillip Peterson, Russ Guffey and Rich Leibe, however, brought up several questions around the liability of the matter, the ultimate price for insurance, the safety packages of the vehicles, the speed of county roads, and the ever-present danger of distracted drivers — who could, theoretically, cause a catastrophic accident.
Hale spoke on behalf of his own family and property, and how most UTV’s not only come with six-point harnesses and other safety features these days, but are also governed and throttled if the driver and passenger aren’t correctly buckled.
Peterson also pointed to the fact that Pembroke recently enacted its own ordinance, allowing for such vehicles to operate as long as drivers don’t take to state-managed roads.
Hale also made it clear that this proposal would serve as a bastion for licensed drivers only, who are seeking recreational and work-related access to the Christian County road system.
Any passing of a local law, Hale added, would immediately benefit Christian Countians.
Currently in Kentucky, ATV’s and UTV’s are generally not allowed on public roads, though there are specific conditions — like agriculture — where it is permissible.
Leibe confirmed that such measures are likely to be taken up and reviewed during this Kentucky Legislative Session, and that it would behoove Hale and others interested to find several comparable laws and regulations already drafted across the Commonwealth on this subject.
Judge-Executive Jerry Gilliam said the concerns would be shifted to the fiscal court’s road committee, and a recommendation sought after another presentation.
