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| Abingdon Could Have Four-Wheeler Debate |
The city of Abingdon has had recent problems with all-terrain vehicles driving through residents' yards and through the boulevard, but the off-road vehicles have also proven to be helpful and that could prompt the city council to change its ordinance.
The city council Tuesday night discussed a state law that essentially bans off-road vehicles like four-wheelers, ATVs, snowmobiles and others that travel faster than 20 miles per hour from city streets. City Attorney Jack Ball told the aldermen the city's ordinance is in line with the state law.
However, not all ATV operators are a nuisance and Alderman Ronnie Steele says for that reason he wants to look into modifying the ordinance if that's what it takes. He says some residents are using four-wheelers and ATVs to remove snow from their driveways and their neighbors' drives, which he argues should be allowed.
Ball says it's his understanding that city would have to go through a number of steps before that could happen.
"You're going to have to have, if you will, a meeting to investigate the volume, speed, character of traffic on the roadway, and determine whether those non-highway vehicles may safely travel across the roadway," Ball said. "Upon that determination, then, you could adopt an ordinance allowing it."
There might be another way, though, and Ball plans to look into it further. He says the mayor might be able to authorize the use of certain off-road vehicles during an emergency situation - such as a snow storm.
Steele and another alderman plan to get together with the streets committee next week to possibly come up with a recommendation for the city council if the mayor doesn't have the authority to allow the off-road vehicles for snow-removal and aldermen have to proceed with the process that involves the investigation. |
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| 01 21 10 by Newsroom |
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