HOPKINSVILLE, KY (CHRISTIAN COUNTY NOW) – A group of individuals who are hoping to see local legislative change that would allow UTV’s to be legal on Christian County roads attended this week’s Fiscal Court meeting. During public comments, Jason Hale spoke on behalf of the group, pitching his case on why magistrates should permit these small vehicles on the roads.

“The point of this conversation is that we want a legal way to do this where we don’t feel like we are breaking the law,” Hale told the Fiscal Court. “We are trying to establish a foundation and then work with you all and build that going forward.”

On the Facebook page Christian County for Side by Side Legalization, over 300 community members have joined in support of modern Side by Side vehicles being authorized for street use. This type of vehicle, referred to as an SXS, are also known as Utility Task Vehicles (UTV’s) or recreational off-road vehicles that are enclosed in a roll cage. Current legislation does not allow these UTV’s to drive on roadways that are open to regular traffic.

Magistrates clarified that driving these types of vehicles is permitted if it is relating to farming or construction. Although travel on roadways is currently limited to two tenths of a mile, and the display of an orange triangle indicating slow moving traffic is required.

Restrictions in place

Hale frequently referenced Trigg County’s methods for registering UTV’s, which involves disclosing the appropriate safety features before receiving a permit to drive it on roads. This process does not include a vehicle inspection. For Trigg, the vehicles are restricted to roads with speed limits under 35 mph. The city of Pembroke also recently permitted UTV’s on roads, with similar speed limit access restrictions.

Hale added that the majority of the vehicles that the group represents are already equipped with safety features that mimic that of a car and only have the capacity to go around 55 mph on average.

“Nobody here is interested in operating on a speed limit of 70 mph,” said Hale. “However, to be able to go down Princeton Road, that would be nice. To be able to go down Dawson Springs Road, that would be nice, and those speed limits are 55 mph.”

It was pointed out that these are both state roads, which poses its own challenges. Issues with safety and liability were also discussed by magistrates, Hale responded by saying they are willing to take on that liability.

Judge Executive Jerry Gilliam ended the discussion saying he would defer the issue to the road committee and invite the group back for a further conversation which may result in a recommendation on how to proceed.

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