Hampshire board approves ordinance to allow permitted golf carts and UTVs on village streets

The Hampshire Village Board voted May 15 to amend the village municipal code to allow golf carts and electric utility terrain vehicles (UTVs) on village streets under a permit-and-regulation program, the board chair announced after a roll-call vote.

The ordinance, introduced by staff and based on state definitions in the Illinois Vehicle Code (IVC), sets permitting requirements, a sticker display for enforcement, and a schedule of penalties for ordinance violations. During public comment, resident Tory Michaels told the board she had started a petition on Change.org with “over 500 signatures” urging the village to allow golf carts, saying carts are “convenient, they’re safe, and they’re economical” for short trips and to support local businesses.

Mayor (chair) and staff framed the ordinance as a regulatory tool intended to bring currently unregulated activity under clear rules so police can enforce violations. Police Chief Pan told trustees the department enforces primarily on a complaint-driven basis but supports a regulatory approach that would make enforcement more straightforward; the chief warned that collisions involving carts typically produce greater injury risk to cart occupants than to occupants of fully enclosed vehicles.

Village attorney Vazelli told the board that existing state law applies in parallel — for example, a drunk-driving arrest could be pursued as a DUI under the IVC while the village may still seek an ordinance citation; the draft lists fines beginning at $50 for a first offense and up to $750 for repeat violations. Staff also confirmed the draft allows revocation or denial of permits for serious or repeated violations.

Trustees debated enforcement capacity — several members and residents noted the village typically staffs two officers per shift and raised concerns about response coverage. Proponents countered that permitting and a sticker system (and a modest permit fee included in the draft) would provide “teeth” to remove privileges from those who repeatedly violate rules and that other Illinois communities of similar size have implemented mapped restrictions and permit programs.

The board directed staff to develop permit forms and implementation procedures. Staff said the ordinance cannot take effect until statutory notice periods elapse (a 10-day period was noted for the ordinance to take legal effect) and expected administrative preparations — including the permit application and sticker process — to be ready in roughly 10 days after that. Trustees also agreed to a review window after implementation (staff will present a follow-up six months after enactment, with the board retaining authority to adjust or sunset the program).

The ordinance passed the board’s roll-call vote; at least two trustees recorded a ‘No’ on the record during the call. The mayor said staff will finalize the permit process and return with forms and implementation details.

What happens next: Staff will prepare the permit application and sticker, post the statutory notice, and begin issuing permits once the notice period expires and administrative materials are complete. The board scheduled a program review within months of implementation to evaluate complaints, enforcement burdens and public safety.