Kentucky Senate Bill 63 passes to legalize special purpose vehicles for roadways

By Roberta Cantrell

BSN Editor

Kentucky Senate Bill 63 passed during regular session with 100 percent progression on March 26 after being introduced back in January making it legal for “special purpose” vehicles to utilize roadways in Kentucky.

A summary of the new law states that local government can prohibit the use of street-legal SPVs (defining SPVs as specially equipped ATVs, UTVs and other special-purpose vehicles) within their jurisdiction.

KY (SB 63) relates to street-legal SPVs, and allowing their operation on highways under specific conditions, including a 20-mile limit on highways with centerline markings and requiring registration, safety equipment, and insurance.

Retain original provisions, except to redefine “street-legal special purpose vehicle” to require it be equipped with a roll bar or roll cage seatbelts as required by federal motor vehicle safety standards and to exclude vehicles primarily engaged in farm or agricultural activities; change the registration fee for a street-legal special purpose vehicle to $10; require street-legal special purpose vehicles be inspected by a certified inspector prior to submission of an application for title; amend KRS 186A.115 to conform and to set the inspection fee for street-legal special purpose vehicles at $25.

Retain original provisions; define “local government”; prohibit the use of street-legal special purpose vehicles on highways within the jurisdictional boundaries of a local government that does not have a local ordinance allowing their use; require the owner or operator of a street-legal special purpose vehicle insure the vehicle in the same form and amounts set forth for motorcycles; create a new section of KRS Chapter 186 to allow a local government to adopt an ordinance to allow the operation of street-legal special purpose vehicles on highways; require an applicant for registration of a street-legal special purpose vehicle to certify safety equipment requirements are met.

The decision to adopt the law in Lawrence County is expected to be on the agenda for the next fiscal court meeting Tuesday, April 15, at 10 a.m., at the Lawrence County Courthouse, downtown Louisa.