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Lee County Fiscal Court adopts resolution to permit street-legal side-by-side vehicles under Senate Bill 63
Summary
The Lee County Fiscal Court unanimously adopted a resolution authorizing operation of street-legal side-by-side vehicles under Kentucky Senate Bill 63. Supporters said the rule will create new tourism and require inspection, insurance and a $10 annual registration; opponents were not recorded.
Lee County Fiscal Court voted to adopt a resolution authorizing the operation of street-legal side-by-side (UTV) vehicles in the county under Kentucky Senate Bill 63, and directed the county clerk and sheriff to implement registration and inspection steps.
The resolution, presented after a public outline by Eric Hubbard of Backroads Appalachia, passed on a voice vote after a motion and second; the court recorded “Aye” and the chair announced the motion carried.
Supporters told the court the law requires inspection by the sheriff and a $10 annual registration, and that the vehicle must meet minimum safety requirements similar to a car. Eric Hubbard summarized the law’s requirements, saying Senate Bill 63 “requires inspection up to $25 and minimum requirements such as brakes, lights and turn signals,” and described county-level application and enforcement as a revenue and safety measure.
Hubbard also told the court the vehicles are limited in use: once inspected and registered they may be driven on certain county roads at a maximum of 20 mph but may not be driven on interstates or major parkways. He said insurance documentation will be checked at renewal.
County officials added that the measure is intended to make off-road vehicles already being used on local roads legal, to increase insurance coverage and to capture modest recurring registration revenue for the sheriff’s office and the county clerk.
The presenter referenced a Kentucky statute from the 1970s that previously allowed out-of-state-tagged vehicles limited access; Hubbard said the new law levels the rules across neighboring states and that several nearby counties have passed similar resolutions.
The court’s packet included the text of the resolution and the county judge instructed the clerk’s office to prepare administrative steps to accept registrations and to coordinate with the sheriff’s office on inspection procedures.
The resolution will take effect according to the county clerk’s implementation schedule; the court did not set a specific effective date at the meeting.
