Approved Travels: Commissioners OK all-purpose, utility vehicles on county roads

(Photo by Michelle Dillon)
Washington County Commissioner James Booth, left, reviews a resolution before signing it as Commissioner Charlie Schilling, right, watches during a commission meeting Thursday morning. Both commissioners voted to approve the resolution allowing all-purpose and utility vehicles including ATVs, mini-bikes and trail bikes on county roads.

Washington Commissioners voted to allow all-purpose and utility vehicles on county roads Thursday.

During a county commission meeting Thursday morning, Commissioners James Booth and Charlie Schilling approved a resolution that allows all-purpose and utility vehicles on county roads. Commissioner Kevin Ritter was not at the meeting so he did not vote on the resolution.

The resolution defines an all-purpose vehicle as “any self-propelled vehicle designed primarily for cross-country travel on land and water, or more than one type of terrain, and steered by wheels or caterpillar treads, or any combination thereof, including vehicles that operate on a cushion of air.”

These all-purpose vehicles are commonly known as all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), all-season vehicles, minibike and trail bikes, according to the resolution.

The resolution said utility vehicles do not include any vehicle principally used in playing golf nor does it include utility vehicles that are designed with a bed and principally for the purpose of transporting materials or cargo in connection with constructions, agriculture, forestry, grounds maintenance, lawn and garden, materials handling or similar activities

The resolution requires all-purpose and utility vehicles that operate on county roads be properly registered, the person operating them must have a valid, current driver’s license and they must have proof of financial responsibility.

Utility vehicles will only be allowed on roads with a speed limit of 35 mph or less and must be inspected by a law enforcement agency, according to the resolution.

Before the resolution was passed Thursday, it was not legal for someone to drive vehicles like a side-by-side or utility task vehicle (UTV) on county roads, Booth said. Now they will be allowed, but only on county roads and the resolution will not govern other roads, like township roads, according to Booth.

He decided to support the resolution, Booth said, because when he and Schilling ran in 2020 for county commission they heard from county residents that they wanted this.

Booth said he also decided to support the resolution because originally Washington County Sheriff Larry Mincks did not support the vehicles being on county roads but now he does.

The Sheriff’s Office was not in support of the resolution before because it was concerned with trespassing issues and people tearing up the roads, Booth said.

Booth emphasized safety is important. The resolution does not require people to add safety features to their all-purpose and utility vehicles, but Booth asked that they upgrade their vehicles with turn signals so other vehicles can see them.

He said people will be able to get the inspection required in the resolution at the Sheriff’s Office for $25 and they will need to go to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles to get the vehicles registered.

“This is a privilege, not a right,” he said of why the vehicles need to be registered.

Schilling supported the resolution for the same reason Booth does, because county residents support it, according to Schilling.

“They’ve been very outspoken,” he said. “It’s something that already occurs. Now it gives us the ability to patrol and enforce if needed along the way. I think it’s an overall good thing.”

Information about registering all-purpose vehicles can be found at bmv.ohio.gov.

Other issues discussed at the meeting include:

≤Approved paying bills totaling $1,994,915.30.

≤Approved a resolution to recognize Roy D. Sees, a World War II veteran.

≤Approved an additional appropriation of $80,000 for expenses for the capital projects fund for a change order and I.T. wiring for the health department renovations at the former WASCO building.

≤Approved three additional appropriations of $10 for life insurance, $1,000 for office support and supplies and $7,040 for other expenses for the Washington County Family and Children First Council fund.

≤Approved a transfer of $52,123.47 from advance in to advance out for the Washington County Department of Jobs and Family Services which according to Director Flite Freimann is to pay the commissioners back for an advance the department got in September.

≤Approved a transfer of $120,000 from operating supplies – road to bridge construction for the Washington County Engineer’s Office.

≤Approved two Then and Now items, which are purchase orders for more than $100, that totaled $24,345.47.

≤Approved paying an invoice for $51,000 to EMAR Corporation for work on the elevator at Jobs and Family Services.

≤Approved sending a letter of support to Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, Ohio Senate President Matt Huffman and Ohio House of Representative Speaker of the House Jason Stephens for House Bill 683, which would give $10 million to Ohio soil and conservation districts to help Ohio farmers who are suffering from the ongoing drought.