A new law set to go in effect next week will allow certain ATVs and side-by-sides to be street-legal.
Senate Bill 63 allows street-legal special-purpose vehicles, like a side-by-side, to be operated on the highway. The vehicle must meet certain requirements, such as having head lamps, tail lamps, reflectors, turn signals, and other requirements.
The vehicle must also be insured, be inspected by the sheriff’s office, and licensed by the county clerk’s office. However, a key provision in the law requires that local governments approve an ordinance to allow these vehicles to be operated on the road within the city or county.
No such ordinance has yet been approved locally. Russell County Sheriff Derek Polston was on Community Conversation yesterday and advised local residents to wait on getting their ATVs inspected.
Polston said inspections can still be performed, particularly noting that some people haul these vehicles to drive in other counties.
The issue was brought up at last week’s fiscal court meeting by Polston and the magistrates are expected to discuss it at their next meeting in July.
The full interview with Polston regarding this topic can be found by searching WJRS wherever you get your podcasts or by visiting lakercountry.com
