Artesia advances draft ROV/UTV ordinance, keeps 18+ operator age and permit process
Council advanced a revised draft ordinance for recreational/off-highway vehicles to a public hearing, retaining an 18-year minimum operator age, sunrise-to-sunset operation, a city permit/inspection process, and a $250 maximum fine; an effective date of Nov. 1, 2026, was set for staff preparedness.
The full story
City Administrator Hayley Klein presented a section-by-section review of a draft ordinance authorizing certain recreational/off-highway vehicles (ROVs/UTVs) on city streets. Council decisions on Aug. 25 retained a minimum operator age of 18 with a valid driver's license (a motion to allow licensed 16-year-old operators failed), kept operation between sunrise and sunset, required a city permit/inspection process to verify equipment, applied the City's Uniform Traffic Ordinance in addition to ordinance-specific penalties, and set a maximum ordinance-specific fine of $250 per offense.
Sign up to keep reading.
Your free newsletter brings you what your city council, county, and school board discussed and decided.
Keep reading for free
Create a free account to finish this story and see the video, transcript and key details.
Continue with GoogleContinue with emailAlready have an account? Log in