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Collinsville council debates allowing neighborhood vehicles; chief outlines draft ordinance, council asks for more study
Summary
Police Chief Boren presented a draft ordinance to allow limited operation of neighborhood (non-highway) vehicles on city streets under state and local restrictions; council members raised safety and enforcement concerns and directed staff to gather more public input and return with further information rather than vote tonight.
Police Chief Boren presented the council with a draft ordinance and a review of Illinois law on Feb. 10 as the council considered whether to permit neighborhood (non-highway) vehicles, such as golf carts and side-by-sides, on certain Collinsville streets. "A non highway vehicle ... is defined as a motor vehicle not specifically designed to be used on a public highway," Boren told the council, and he summarized state requirements on equipment, licensing and local authorization.
Boren said the ordinance draft would require operators to be at least 18 years old, hold a valid driver’s license, and have the vehicle titled and insured. He also described proposed limits including prohibiting operation on state and county roads and high-speed arterials, a top speed of 25 mph, a ban after 11 p.m., restrictions during poor visibility, and a city-administered permit and inspection program. "Permits issued only to city residents," he said when outlining the draft permitting process.
Several council members voiced strong safety concerns. One member recounted a local fatal crash involving a side-by-side and said, "I preached the funeral for the 1 that passed away," arguing that the community’s terrain, arterial traffic and driver behavior make such a program risky. Other council members cited the number of major highways that cross Collinsville and the enforcement burden on police, saying the risks may outweigh the benefits.
Those in favor noted examples from nearby municipalities and potential neighborhood benefits. One council member pointed to peer jurisdictions that reported few problems after adopting similar ordinances and suggested a limited program or a sunset clause for evaluation.
Rather than vote, the council asked staff to gather more community input, provide additional data on comparable cities, and return the item to a future meeting. Chief Boren said he would look further into signage requirements, enforcement implications and program administration before the council takes a final vote.
