The Starke County Commissioners passed the UTV ordinance on second reading.
County Attorney Marty Lucas clarified the wording of “county highway” in the ordinance. He said the wording is a little aged, but it means county road and does not reflect any permission on the state highways to operate UTVs. Highways such as U.S. 35, U.S. 30, State Road 8, State Road 10, State Road 39 and U.S. 421 that run through Starke County are the jurisdiction of the state or federal highway system.
In essence, the county’s ordinance authorizes and regulates the use of Recreational Utility Task Vehicles (UTVs or side-by-sides) and Off-Road Vehicles (ORVs) on certain county roads.
The use of the vehicles is strictly on roads under the jurisdiction of the Starke County Highway Department. The vehicles cannot be legally operated in the incorporated limits of Knox, North Judson or Hamlet unless similar ordinances have been passed by those governing entities.
The driver must have a valid driver’s license to operate the ORV or UTV legally on county roads and insurance coverage is mandatory. Drivers must obey all laws, regulations and rules on a roadway.
A public hearing on the ordinance is planned for Monday, Dec. 4.
A copy of the ordinance is available in the Starke County Auditor’s office in the Starke County Annex Building No. 1 on 53 E. Mound Street in Knox. It is also available by clicking here.
