Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Transportation Regulation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Russell County discusses ordinance to allow street-legal side-by-sides, adds passenger age limit
Summary
The fiscal court held the first reading of an ordinance to permit street-legal special purpose vehicles (side-by-sides) on county highways per state law and approved a change to require passengers to be at least 16 years old pending final ordinance language.
The Russell County Fiscal Court on Aug. 11 read the first ordinance draft to allow operation of street-legal special-purpose vehicles—commonly called side-by-sides—on county highways in alignment with the Kentucky law enacted March 26, 2025.
Court staff read Ordinance 25-07 into the record, which incorporates definitions and allowances set forth in 2025 Kentucky Acts, Chapter 89. The draft prohibits travel on controlled-access highways (interstates, parkways) and limits the distance such vehicles may travel on centerline-marked highways to 20 miles, consistent with the state statute language included by reference.
Magistrates and the sheriff discussed safety issues and age limits for occupants. One magistrate proposed amending the draft to require passengers be 16 years or older; the court voted to place that change on the ordinance (motion recorded and passed by voice vote). The sheriff advised enforcement would treat seat-belt and passenger-age compliance similarly to motor-vehicle seat-belt enforcement and noted that drivers would be responsible for passenger safety and any child-age violations.
The item was presented as a first reading; court members asked for the ordinance language to be clarified and for staff to bring back a redraft showing the passenger-age amendment and any necessary enforcement language before the second reading.
Ending: The ordinance will return for a subsequent reading with the age restriction and clarified language on prohibited highways and enforcement.
