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St. Helens council advances work on ordinance to allow street-legal side-by-sides, asks staff to tighten safety and enforcement language
Summary
Council discussed a draft ordinance to permit ORS-street-legal side-by-sides on city streets, debated age and child-safety rules, helmet and lighting language, geographic limits, and administrative enforcement; council directed staff and legal to revise car-seat, ‘18-or-older’ and ‘daylight hours’ wording and return with a revised draft.
Mayor opened a work-session discussion of a proposed ordinance to allow street-legal side-by-sides to operate on St. Helens streets, saying constituents had repeatedly requested the change and that the draft incorporates safety and insurance input from Sheriff Pixley and Chief Smith.
The mayor said he researched other municipalities and noted the county and nearby cities are moving on similar rules. He told council the draft requires vehicles to be ORS-street-legal with required signals and insurance, and that it includes safety provisions such as helmets, restraints and equipment standards. “I have 0 interest myself in operating a side by side in the city,” the mayor said, adding he brought the draft to respond to constituent demand.
Council members raised several substantive…
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