Sellersburg council bars semi trucks from neighborhood streets

The Town of Sellersburg council on Aug. 10 adopted Ordinance 2026‑ORD‑012, banning semi trucks from a list of neighborhood streets and directing the town manager to install regulatory signage.

Council members said the measure followed repeated incidents of large trucks damaging signs and roadways in older residential areas. "We had a gentleman out of Miami, Florida who decided he wanted to try to go up Oak Street and take a ride on Saint Paul and left on Sellers," the TriTown manager said, recounting a recent case that produced citations and a court date. Council discussed enforcement limits under Indiana law but agreed signage and police enforcement would be a practical deterrent.

Town legal counsel noted state statute sets the underlying fine and explained the town ordinance gives officers a tool to cite drivers: "If they damaged the road substantially, you can file a claim against that driver and recover everything," the attorney said. Council member concerns focused on whether the state-set penalty provides sufficient deterrence; one member urged stronger fines but accepted the ordinance as a workable enforcement tool.

The ordinance lists All Hands Avenue, Highland Avenue, Shirley Avenue, Shellers Avenue, Sellers Avenue, Oak Street, Saint Paul Street and Haas Avenue as restricted. The council voted to waive the second reading and approved the ordinance on a voice vote.

The council instructed the town manager to cause signage to be installed in the public right-of-way and to notify the public; if drivers continue to ignore signs, officers will issue citations that proceed through Clark County's prosecutor's office.