Motion to give first reading to Bracken County street-legal UTV/side-by-side ordinance fails after split vote

Bracken County Fiscal Court considered an ordinance to opt in to allowing street-legal special-purpose vehicles (UTVs/side-by-sides) on county roads during its Aug. 13 meeting. Counsel had advised that adjoining counties that have adopted ordinances must be opted into for their licensed vehicles to operate locally; the court discussed whether out-of-county licensed vehicles could legally use Bracken roads without a local ordinance.

Magistrates debated several concerns: safety on two-lane county roads and the "Double A" corridor, how vehicles would interact with scenic bicycling routes, and uncertainty around insurance coverage. One magistrate noted that insurance companies currently treat many UTVs as off-road vehicles and that coverage for on-road claims may be uncertain.

Craig Miller moved to approve the ordinance as a first reading and Sandy Roof seconded. After discussion and roll-call voting, the motion failed (the court recorded five 'no' votes and multiple 'yes' votes; the clerk announced the motion did not pass). The judge and other members emphasized that an ordinance can be amended between readings and that the court could revisit the matter with amendments and further public input.

No ordinance was adopted at the meeting; the item will return if members bring amendments or request a second reading.