HOPKINSVILLE, KY (CHRISTIAN COUNTY NOW) – The ordinance permitting recreation use of Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) passed its second reading during the Sept. 16 Hopkinsville City Council meeting. It was legalized for Christian County residents by the fiscal court earlier this summer, with Hopkinsville following suit.
The classification of SPVs as spelled out in Senate Bill 63 by the Kentucky Legislature includes all terrain vehicles, and utility terrain vehicles. Before being street legal, they must be equipped with a long list of safety features such as headlamps, a horn, a speedometer, a roll bar, review mirrors, a windshield, license plate light, turn signals, and a working muffler.
Hopkinsville’s ordinance specifies that SPVs must be driven by licensed drivers and are limited to highways that have a posted speed limit of 35 mph or less. Passengers under the age of 18 must wear a helmet.
What to know before hitting the road, inspections by deputies
“Now that the ordinance is passed, yes, city residents can start operating those on the roads,” Hopkinsville Police Chief Jason Newby told Christian County Now. “But there is a process. They (SPVs) have to go through the inspections, and they have to meet certain requirements.”
To qualify as street-legal, vehicles must meet specific equipment standards, be registered and insured, and pass a certified, $25 inspection performed by the Christian County Sheriff’s Office during regular business hours.
The following information must be given at the inspection.
- The vehicle in question with a visible VIN
- Proof of ownership
- Valid photo ID
- Title, or certificate of origin, or bill of sale signed and notarized, or Affidavit of ownership-must be signed and notarized
Residents with questions are encouraged to contact the Christian County Sheriff’s Office at (270) 887-4143 for more details.
| DON’T MISS A STORY: Click here to sign up for our free weekly email newsletter