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AN ACT relating to off-highway vehicles. 1
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: 2
ď˘Section 1. KRS 189.281 is amended to read as follows: 3
After June 29, 2021, and until July 1, 2027[2024]: 4
(1) As used in this section: 5
(a) "Local government" means: 6
1. A city, county, charter county government, urban-county government, 7
consolidated local government, or unified local government that is 8
located within the boundaries of a regional authority, or the Kentucky 9
Mountain Regional Recreation Authority established under KRS 10
148.0222, acting on behalf of a local government that is part of the 11
authority; or 12
2. Any city, county, charter county government, urban-county 13
government, consolidated local government, or unified local 14
government that operates a public OHV trail system; 15
(b) "Off-highway vehicle" or "OHV" means a motorized vehicle that: 16
1. Is designed to be primarily used for recreational purposes; 17
2. Has a maximum speed that is greater than thirty-five (35) miles per 18
hour; 19
3. Is equipped with the following: 20
a. Four (4) to six (6) highway or nonhighway tires; 21
b. A steering wheel or steering mechanism; 22
c. Brakes; 23
d. Headlamps; 24
e. Tail lamps; 25
f. Brake lights; 26
g. One (1) red reflex reflector on each side as far to the rear as 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 24 RS SB 125/GA
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practicable and one (1) red reflex reflector on the rear; 1
h. A working muffler; 2
i. A parking brake; 3
j. A spark arrestor; and 4
k. For multi-passenger vehicles, an exterior mirror mounted on the 5
driver's side of the vehicle, either an interior mirror or an exterior 6
mirror mounted on the passenger's side of the vehicle, and for each 7
designated seating position, a seatbelt assembly that conforms to 8
the federal motor vehicle safety standard provided in 49 C.F.R. 9
sec. 571.209; and 10
(c) "Regional authority" means: 11
1. The Kentucky Mountain Regional Recreation Authority established in 12
KRS 148.0222; and 13
2. Any other authority established in Kentucky Revised Statutes[, prior to 14
June 29, 2021,] that oversees lands in two (2) or more contiguous 15
counties, on which there is a system of recreational trails, including 16
streams, rivers, and other waterways, and appurtenant facilities, 17
including trailhead centers, parking areas, camping facilities, picnic 18
areas, recreational areas, historic or cultural interpretive sites, and other 19
facilities in Kentucky and designated by the regional authority. 20
(2) (a) The legislative body of a local government that is currently or formerly 21
located within the boundaries of a regional authority, or which currently 22
operates a public OHV trail system, may establish a pilot program, by 23
ordinance, to authorize and regulate the operation of an OHV on any public 24
roadway or any section of city or county roadway for which it bears 25
responsibility. 26
(b) Prior to enacting an OHV ordinance under paragraph (a) of this subsection, 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 24 RS SB 125/GA
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the legislative body of a local government shall notify the public of its plans 1
to allow OHV use on roadways under its jurisdiction. Public notice under this 2
paragraph shall: 3
1. Notify the public of the time, subject, and location of the public meeting 4
and shall be posted in both a local newspaper, if any, and a newspaper of 5
general circulation in the county; 6
2. Include a list and map of all roadways and connecting trails that the 7
local government intends to designate for OHV use; and 8
3. Be placed on the website[Web site] of the local government. 9
(c) A local government may petition the Transportation Cabinet to include, in an 10
OHV ordinance adopted under paragraph (a) of this subsection, state-11
maintained roadways or sections of state-maintained roadways located within 12
the local government's jurisdictional boundaries. The local government shall 13
submit the following to the Transportation Cabinet for approval: 14
1. The minutes from the public meeting or meetings held prior to adoption 15
of an OHV ordinance under this subsection; 16
2. A list and map of all roadways and connecting trails that the local 17
government intends to designate for OHV use; 18
3. An enforcement plan to ensure that all OHVs operating on roadways 19
under this section meet all of the requirements established under this 20
section, including verification of required insurance coverage; 21
4. A plan to notify the public and OHV users of the operation of OHVs on 22
state and local roadways within the boundaries of the local government; 23
5. A safety plan for OHV roadway use; and 24
6. Any other requirements established by the Transportation Cabinet under 25
subsection (16) of this section. 26
(d) The Transportation Cabinet shall, within ninety (90) days of receipt of a 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 24 RS SB 125/GA
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petition and all information required in paragraph (c) of this subsection, 1
respond to the local government with approval or denial of the request 2
submitted. 3
(e) Any OHV ordinance adopted under this section shall be adopted at a public 4
meeting. 5
(3) A fully controlled access highway shall not be designated for OHV use under this 6
section. 7
(4) A local government that has enacted an OHV ordinance under this section shall 8
notify the Transportation Cabinet of any collision involving an OHV that occurred 9
on any roadway approved for OHV use under this section. 10
(5) A person may operate an OHV on a public roadway pursuant to subsection (2) of 11
this section if the: 12
(a) Operator is eighteen (18) years of age or older; 13
(b) Operator has a valid operator's license in his or her possession; 14
(c) OHV is insured by the owner or operator, for the payment of tort liabilities in 15
the same form and amounts as set forth in KRS 304.39-110 for motorcycles; 16
(d) Proof of insurance is inside the OHV at all times of operation on a public 17
roadway; and 18
(e) OHV is equipped with all safety equipment required under this section. 19
(6) Any person operating an OHV on a public roadway under this section shall be 20
subject to the same traffic regulations of this chapter as a motor vehicle, including 21
KRS 189.520 prohibiting the operation of a vehicle that is not a motor vehicle, 22
while under the influence of intoxicants or substances which may impair driving. 23
(7) A person shall not operate an OHV under this section on any public roadway: 24
(a) Between one (1) hour after sunset and one (1) hour before sunrise, unless the 25
person can demonstrate cause for driving, including but not limited to 26
emergencies; or 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 24 RS SB 125/GA
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(b) While carrying passengers on a trailer or any other towed unit. 1
(8) Any passenger of an OHV that is under the age of sixteen (16) shall be required to 2
wear a helmet that meets the national standards prescribed by the United States 3
Department of Transportation. 4
(9) An operator and any passengers shall wear eye protection when operating or riding 5
an OHV that is not equipped with a windshield. 6
(10) (a) The Transportation Cabinet shall be responsible for the cost, placement, and 7
maintenance of signage denoting state highways that have been authorized for 8
OHV use under this section. 9
(b) The local government shall be responsible for the cost, placement, and 10
maintenance of signage denoting local roadways that have been designated for 11
OHV use under this section. 12
(c) The local government shall be responsible for monthly inspection of state and 13
local OHV signage. 14
(11) An OHV operating on a public roadway designated by a local government under 15
subsection (2) of this section is not considered to be a motor vehicle and shall be 16
exempt from: 17
(a) Vehicle registration requirements of KRS 186.050; and 18
(b) Emissions compliance certificates pursuant to KRS 224.20-720. 19
(12) A local government may adopt more stringent local ordinances governing OHV 20
safety equipment and operation than specified in this section. 21
(13) If deemed in the interest of public safety, the Transportation Cabinet may: 22
(a) Prohibit the operation of an OHV on any public roadway designated under 23
subsection (2) of this section that crosses a state-maintained roadway; or 24
(b) Rescind approval given under subsection (2)(d) of this section. 25
(14) This section shall not apply to: 26
(a) An OHV operated on any private or public recreational trail or area; 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 24 RS SB 125/GA
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(b) An OHV operating under the exemptions for highway use under KRS 1
189.515; or 2
(c) A publicly owned and operated OHV used for wildlife management, law 3
enforcement, emergency services, or other governmental purposes. 4
(15) Nothing in this section shall be interpreted or construed to require an insurance 5
company to provide OHV insurance coverage. 6
(16) The Transportation Cabinet shall promulgate administrative regulations pursuant to 7
KRS Chapter 13A to implement this section, including but not limited to: 8
(a) Prescribing of any forms or applications needed; 9
(b) Establishing criteria for OHV ordinances; 10
(c) Establishing OHV enforcement requirements; 11
(d) Establishing criteria for rescinding approval pursuant to subsection (13) of 12
this section; 13
(e) Establishing OHV safety requirements; 14
(f) Establishing OHV safety equipment verification protocol; and 15
(g) Establishing OHV safety plan requirements. 16