Starke Commissioners Form Committee to Research Allowing Off-Road Vehicles on County Roads

Posted on October 24, 2017
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI

The Starke County Commissioners are willing to explore the possibility of allowing certain off-road vehicles on county roads. After researching the issue, County Attorney Marty Lucas told the commissioners Monday that they have the authority to authorize their use, but there are some limitations. “The county can’t have a fee,” he said. “It can’t add any additional equipment. It can’t require a license for driving them, if a license isn’t required by state statute.”

But Lucas does think the county might be able to allow only certain types of off-road vehicles on county roads. While several different types of vehicles fall under the category, Starke County is most interested in allowing what state law calls “recreational off-highway vehicles.” These are commonly referred to as UTVs or side-by-sides, like Gator vehicles. While some of these might be similar to golf carts, Lucas explained that they’re regulated under a completely different system, according to Indiana law.

A big concern for the commissioners was how to ensure the vehicles are safe, if the county can’t require accessory equipment. Several utility vehicle owners in attendance Monday said that many safety features, like headlights and seat-belts, come standard on most UTVs, and they generally have to be registered through the Bureau of Motor Vehicles.

And while the county can’t require off-road vehicle users to have a license, it was noted that other counties have set an age minimum. Commissioner Kathy Norem said she’d like to look more closely at what other counties have done. “I’m not against having something like this,” she said, “but what I’d like to see is, just – I know other counties have them, so I’d like to see their ordinances and see how they compare with some of these things that we’ve discussed this evening.”

The board tasked Commissioner Charlie Chesak with forming a committee with County Attorney Lucas, Sheriff Bill Dulin, and possibly others, to research the issue further.