Derby council adopts ordinance banning UTVs, micro utility trucks from city streets

The Derby City Council on Jan. 14 adopted an ordinance amending the municipal code to prohibit utility terrain vehicles (UTVs) and micro utility trucks from operating on city streets, rejecting a staff proposal that would have allowed those vehicles under a city registration and equipment rules similar to golf carts.

Hannah Baker, assistant to the city manager, presented two options during a second reading: a ban (option 1) or a registration regime similar to the city’s 2023 golf-cart ordinance (option 2). Baker told the council that state statute prevents off-highway vehicles from being registered at the state level unless they are intended for operation on the highway, and that the city would therefore need a local registration system if it chose to permit UTVs on streets.

Baker also reported results from two informal public polls: a city survey with 123 responses and a local news poll with 442 responses. She said 60% of city-survey respondents opposed allowing UTVs on streets, while the larger local-news poll showed about 68% opposed. Objections in comments ranged from noise and visibility concerns to underage and inattentive drivers; supporters cited personal mobility and additional transportation options.

Council members debated safety, enforcement and precedent. Council member Molt said many residents opposed the change and moved to adopt option 1, which would disallow UTVs and micro utility trucks. Council member Unkle and others raised questions about enforcement, parity with golf carts and possible pilot programs; several council members noted that the city’s police department had fewer problems with golf carts than opponents feared.

Mayor Stacks called for a hand vote. The council’s vote resulted in a tie among voting members and the mayor cast the tie-breaking vote in favor of the ordinance; the mayor announced the motion carried. The meeting record does not list a roll-call tally by name in the transcript.

Baker said that, under option 2, permitted vehicles would have been required to be registered with the police department, drivers licensed, and safety equipment used (including seat belts if originally installed). She said the state had confirmed that current statute requires vehicles to be intended for highway use to be registered at the state level and that micro utility trucks and UTVs do not meet that standard.

Council members suggested that if the change causes problems the council can revisit the ordinance in future meetings. Several council members urged parents and owners to enforce safe practices; others emphasized that registration would have created enforceable standards but still left questions about higher speeds and use on faster, arterial streets such as Rock Road.

The ordinance will amend Derby’s municipal code to prohibit UTVs and micro utility trucks on city streets; the municipal code reference and ordinance number were not specified in the meeting packet. Staff will incorporate the council’s action in the city code and communicate the change to the public.