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Resident urges Atchison to allow street‑legal UTVs; commissioners ask staff for options
Summary
A resident asked the Atchison City Commission to consider an ordinance or registration system to allow utility task vehicles (UTVs) on city streets, distinguishing them from ATVs and proposing safety and registration requirements; commissioners asked staff to draft options addressing inspection, insurance and age limits.
A city resident identified in the meeting as Kim (Ms. Bonaroff) asked the Atchison City Commission to consider legalizing utility task vehicles, or UTVs, for limited street use, saying the machines are “more like an automobile” and are already widely used by residents and visitors.
Bonaroff told the commission UTVs are distinct from all‑terrain vehicles (ATVs): they typically have steering wheels, enclosed cabins, seat belts or harnesses and DOT‑approved tires. She urged the city to consider either treating UTVs like vehicles under existing traffic ordinances or adopting a city registration and inspection program. “We are not talking about ATVs… We are only wanting to talk about a UTV,” she said.
Bonaroff cited examples from other Kansas cities and neighboring states, saying local registration fees elsewhere run “from anywhere from $25 to $200” and that some communities simply permit UTVs without a local tag. She described typical UTV attributes discussed in her presentation — at least 48 inches wide, four or more low‑pressure tires, multiple seats, headlights and taillights — and argued UTVs can be safer than some vehicles already allowed on streets.
Commissioners asked practical questions about scale and enforcement. Commissioner Murphy asked how many UTVs might be affected; Bonaroff estimated “hundreds” in the area and cited a recent ride with roughly 300 participants. Commissioners and staff discussed inspection regimes, liability insurance requirements and minimum age or license limits; several commissioners emphasized an 18‑year minimum and valid driver’s license as possible conditions. Chief Wilson and other staff weighed in about patrol and enforcement capacity.
The commission did not adopt an ordinance or vote on a regulation at the meeting. Instead, the mayor asked city staff — including the city manager and the police chief — to work with Bonaroff and return with options for the commission to consider, including registration/inspection models and enforcement approaches. Bonaroff said she would be willing to help draft ordinance language and assist with inspection logistics.
Next steps: staff will bring options back to the commission for further discussion and potential drafting of an ordinance or registration program.
