Sheriff reports 526 calls in May; cautions court on Senate Bill 63 implementation for side-by-side inspections

The Russell County sheriff’s office told the fiscal court it handled 526 calls for service in May, including 43 arrests, and provided an overview of court security transports and other operational statistics. The sheriff also briefed the court on implementation requirements for Senate Bill 63, which creates a new inspection and registration pathway for certain off-highway vehicles to be operated on highways under specified conditions.

The sheriff’s monthly report, accepted by the court, listed: 526 calls for service, 43 arrests, nine domestic incidents, 59 traffic stops, 20 no-injury accidents and five injury accidents. The office recorded 11 mental-health transports, 11 transports to a facility in Dona and 11 to the Eastern State (as read). The sheriff’s office also served 104 court papers, 15 juvenile summonses, nine criminal summonses, 68 civil summonses, eight subpoenas, two eviction notices and two emergency protective orders. Court security officers made 151 transports and drove 4,437 court-security transport miles; vehicle inspections and concealed-weapon contacts were also reported.

Sheriff’s staff briefed the court at length on Senate Bill 63, which — as the sheriff explained — becomes effective June 27, 2025, and authorizes a class of "street-legal special purpose vehicles" (including utility terrain vehicles and similar units) to operate on highways in certain circumstances. The sheriff read statutory language and KRS citations describing required equipment (headlights, tail lamps, brake lights, reflectors, turn signals, braking system, horn, muffler, mirrors, windshield/eye protection rules, roll bar or cage, seat belts that meet federal standards, minimum tire tread and other equipment) and limitations (vehicles may not travel more than 20 miles on marked-centerline highways; registration and inspection requirements are specified in KRS chapters cited).

The sheriff told the court that, under the new law, inspections must be performed by a certified inspector and that, initially, those inspections will be performed by the sheriff’s office (designated deputies). The sheriff advised the court to expect a surge of requests for inspections and recommended the court consider whether to adopt a local ordinance or other administrative steps; the court was told to expect sample ordinance language and inspection forms to be circulated for review.

On procedure, the sheriff noted county clerk involvement in registration and described a likely local workflow to collect proof of insurance at inspection and maintain inspection records. Court members were advised that local rules will control operation within municipal limits where applicable and that other state or federal limitations (interstates, parkways, USDA lands) remain in force.

Ending: The sheriff’s briefing closed with a recommendation that the court review model ordinance language and prepare for inspection requests after the June 27 effective date; county staff were asked to anticipate administrative and enforcement implications.