Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Vehicle Regulation Orv topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Pulaski County adopts ordinance to register off-road vehicles and golf carts; inspections, restrictions set
Summary
County commissioners approved Ordinance 2025-10 to regulate off-road vehicles (ORVs) and golf cart use on county roads, set a $25 annual sticker fee and required inspections and safety equipment for registration.
Pulaski County commissioners voted to adopt Ordinance No. 2025-10 to regulate off-road vehicles (ORVs) and golf carts on county roads, establishing inspection requirements, a $25 annual sticker fee and restrictions on age, equipment and where such vehicles may operate.
Fred, a county staff member overseeing the ordinance rollout, described basic requirements for a county sticker and for vehicles to be road-worthy. He said: “You're gonna have to be 16 years old. Equipped with a manufacturer's serial number plate, rearview mirror, headlights, taillights, brake lights, turn signals, front and rear reflectors, and a horn.” The ordinance makes clear town ordinances still control use within municipal limits.
Under the ordinance as adopted, stickers run January 1–December 31 and the county will inspect vehicles before issuing a sticker. The fee is $25; a $1 charge to a secondary fund was noted in the discussion. County staff said inspections will be performed either at the county office or in the field and that the county will provide a grace period for residents to get stickers after publication and two newspaper notices. The commissioners set an effective date in late July to allow time for the program to launch.
County staff emphasized safety and local control: vehicles without required lighting or equipment will not pass inspection, no 10-year-olds (and in discussion staff noted drivers must hold a valid driver's license), and the ordinance will not allow ORVs on state highways. Staff said the county will coordinate with towns such as Winamac that maintain their own rules and that towns can still prohibit certain vehicles within town limits.
The motion to approve the ordinance passed by voice vote. Commissioners thanked staff for work drafting the five-page ordinance and directed staff to publish the rules and begin inspections and sticker issuance once the ordinance is effective.
Why it matters: The ordinance establishes county-level oversight for an increasing number of four-wheel off-road and side-by-side vehicles and motorized bicycles, clarifying where they may be used, the safety equipment required, and who must be inspected and registered.
