Senate subcommittee pauses debate on bill to allow UTVs on South Carolina roads

At a Senate Transportation Subcommittee meeting, members heard hours of testimony on S.222, a bill that would allow utility terrain vehicles (UTVs or side-by-sides) to operate on public roads in South Carolina while requiring licensing, titling, registration and insurance.

The bill, introduced in the packet as S.222, was summarized to the panel by legislative staff member David Owens, who said, "it permits the operation of utility terrain vehicles or UTVs, sometimes known as side by sides, on public roads. It requires licensing, registration, titling, and insurance, and it exempts UTVs from property taxes and specifies violations." Owens also noted written testimony distributed from a national industry group.

Why it matters: The proposal touches on public safety, local law enforcement discretion, employer and manufacturer liability, and a manufacturing presence in the state. Witnesses said the issue affects rural travel, recreational use, and businesses that build UTVs in South Carolina.

Safety was a central theme. The subcommittee chair opened by urging members to weigh statewide fatality statistics, noting South Carolina's high rankings on multiple highway-fatality metrics and saying, "I think safety is…