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Council debates inspection rules for side-by-side/UTV ordinance after local mechanics lack ASE certification
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Summary
Council discussed problems implementing a recent UTV/golf cart ordinance requiring ASE-certified inspectors; members suggested alternatives — dealer certification, garage-keeper insurance, or recognition of prior ASE certification — and agreed to continue the discussion at a future meeting.
Council members and staff spent substantial time discussing an implementation problem with a recently passed ordinance requiring ASE-certified mechanics to perform inspections for side-by-side/UTV golf carts. Several residents and vendors responded after the ordinance passed but discovered local shops lack the specific ASE credentials required, prompting trips out of town and added cost.
"We had people lining up at local businesses here in town waiting to get an inspection just to find out that they cannot be inspected because we don't have the proper certifications in those businesses," said Lawmaker (Speaker 3). Council members and others proposed multiple solutions: add dealer certification options, accept mechanics who previously held ASE certification, allow mechanics with garage-keeper insurance to perform inspections, or create objective alternative criteria to demonstrate inspector credibility. Lawmaker (Speaker 8), who identified having ASE credentials in the discussion, said he did not believe ASE certification was necessary for the basic safety checks required for street use (lights, horn, wipers) and suggested a local-business-registration plus insurance requirement could be sufficient.
Members noted that the council could discuss amendments at the next meeting but that formal action would require a posted agenda if changes were to be adopted. The council agreed to collect a list of potential local inspectors and revisit the ordinance language at the next meeting to propose possible amendments.
No formal amendment or vote was taken during the session; the issue remains under discussion and will return to the council for further consideration.
